Agency exits city strategy on homeless over funding

Waikiki Health Center, one of Honolulu’s largest homeless service providers and operators of emergency shelters, has opted out of a plan to get some of Oahu’s most mentally ill homeless off the street.

The center, which was the sole bidder for a city housing program called Pathways, pulled its proposal because the city’s 18-month subsidy would have paid for the building but would not have provided operational funding, said Sheila Beckham, the Waikiki Health Center’s chief executive officer.

"The idea was to focus on adults with mental illness because these individuals often have the toughest time on the streets," Beckham said. "We were considering putting in a proposal for a medical and dental clinic on the ground floor and long-term housing for up to 30 clients.

"However, without operational funding, I was concerned that this program could be sustainable. We are not looking to house the mentally ill and then throw them back on the street."

The Waikiki Neighborhood Board and members of the Waikiki community, who say the number of homeless is growing, expressed disappointment at the setback in their fight to take back the tourism district’s streets.

"The number of complaints about homelessness has not gone down, not remained steady, not gone up a little. It has skyrocketed," said City Councilman Stanley Chang, who represents Waikiki, Ala Moana, Diamond Head, Kahala and Hawaii Kai.

Waikiki Neighborhood Board President Robert Finley said Waikiki’s frustration is mounting. "It has gotten to be a very heated issue," Finley said. "We live here and we can’t walk down the street without guys yelling at us or panhandling or lying down in our paths." 

Pathways might have alleviated some of the district’s complaints and saved tax dollars, he said.

"We have these people here now who are using up a lot of resources and ambulances," Finley said. "If we can provide a housing area and provide security for their neighbors, I have no problem with it. I’m a not a NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) guy."

Beckham said the center would reconsider Pathways if government, businesses and concerned citizens stepped up to assist with operational funds.

"I am more than happy to move forward, but I need 10 years of operational funds," Beckham said. "If the business community feels so strongly about getting the homeless out of their front yard, maybe they can kick in some money. We need partners and financing." 

While Pathways was a city-initiated partnership, state Coordinator on Homelessness Colin Kippen said it would have complemented the state and federal Housing First model, which aims to get homeless people into houses and then offer support to keep them there.  

"Pathways is a good idea. The next conversation has to be about implementation," Kippen said. "When we think about creating housing programs in our community, we have to think about the service delivery program that comes with it. I don’t think the Waikiki Health Center wanted to take on all of the risk themselves." 

While some are disappointed that Pathways has stalled, others question whether it would be the best use of resources.

Rob Hanson Jr., who has been homeless in Waikiki for 80 days, said Hawaii needs more affordable housing for working people and not just people with mental illness or a drug problem.

"When I moved to Phoenix, I lived in hotels until I found a $17-an-hour job," Hanson said. "Hotels are more expensive here. I got a temp job but I’ve run out of money." 

Increasing the minimum wage, beefing up job training and making inexpensive rentals available would do more to help, Hanson said.

The debate continues. In the meantime, Beckham said the center is expanding in other ways, nearer to its core health care mission. Next month it will open an administrative and medical building at 935 Maka­hiki St. By summer it will include the 45-year-old Waikiki Health Center’s first dental clinic.

The 10,000-square-foot, two-story facility with on-site parking will alleviate pressure at the center’s seven other outreach locations, said Kelly Joseph, the Waikiki Health Center’s chief of marketing and development. Last year, Joseph said, the center served 8,600 unique patients, of which 5,570 were 200 percent below the poverty level and 2,870 were uninsured.

"We have had constant demand and sometimes there have been waits," Beckham said. "We are excited about opening our new health center and offering dental services." 

Although there are 37 dentists within a 5-mile radius of the center’s main Ohua Avenue clinic, none takes Medicaid or uninsured patients, she said.

"People need to have proper oral health," Beckham said. "But many of our clients have never been to a dentist. This is a great opportunity to bring them more services that they need."