Caldwell outlines Sand Island emergency homeless camp

Mayor Kirk Caldwell is announcing details of a plan to create emergency housing out of modified shipping containers on Sand Island.

The site is intended to be a place for people to transition out of homelessness. It’s expected to house 75 to 100 people.

Caldwell on Thursday will announce which service providers will operate the site.

Critics had been worried about potential toxins in the location which is near a former dump. But Caldwell says the State Department of Health tested the soil and found it to be safe.

The area is mostly industrial and near a wastewater treatment plant. There are some beach parks nearby. Part of Sand Island was previously used as an internment camp during World War II.

There are 4,903 homeless people on Oahu and 1,939 are unsheltered.