Domestic violence victims need more than a homeless shelter

By Nanci Kreidman

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 12, 2012

~~<p>I watched with rapt attention PBS' "Insights" show last week featuring our mayoral candidates. I have three children, all young adults, and their future is at stake. I am also an advocate for survivors of domestic violence, and their future is at stake, too. The short discussion about Honolulu's problems related to homelessness and the plans — what plans? — to address the problem was pretty shallow.</p>
<p>All homeless people are not mentally ill. Nor are all homeless people unwilling or disinterested in assistance. Those were the assertions made. I would not be meeting my mandate as an advocate if I stayed silent on this.</p>
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I watched with rapt attention PBS' "Insights" show last week featuring our mayoral candidates. I have three children, all young adults, and their future is at stake. I am also an advocate for survivors of domestic violence, and their future is at stake, too. The short discussion about Honolulu's problems related to homelessness and the plans — what plans? — to address the problem was pretty shallow.

All homeless people are not mentally ill. Nor are all homeless people unwilling or disinterested in assistance. Those were the assertions made. I would not be meeting my mandate as an advocate if I stayed silent on this. Login for more...