Question: Some homeless people interviewed on the news have stated that the rules at the shelters are too strict. What are these rules that are so strict that someone would rather live on the street instead?

Answer: We contacted the Institute for Human Services, which operates the largest and oldest emergency shelter program in the state, including two facilities in urban Honolulu. Executive Director Connie Mitchell said that emergency shelters operated by IHS and other service providers “all serve different populations,” adding, “The rules are pretty basic. They may seem like many to some. But they amount to basic respect for each other and maintaining some behavioral standards that promote an environment of health and safety for all.”

Here are IHS’ main rules, which if violated will result in the resident’s suspension:

» No drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol or weapons allowed on property. “If someone comes to the shelter intoxicated, we will allow them entry to sleep it off,” Mitchell said. “But we may also discuss substance abuse with them.”

» No smoking, except outside the shelter as determined by law (20 feet from entrance).

» No gambling.

» No sexual activity (due to shared quarters).

» No stealing.

» No photographs or videos in the shelter without authorization (to protect everyone’s privacy).

» No physical violence against another person.

» No threats to another.

IHS also imposes guidelines, that, while not inflexible, are important for residents to follow:

» Maintain adequate personal hygiene by showering regularly and washing clothes regularly. (Bathing and laundry facilities are available on-site.)

» Parents must supervise their children.

» Curfew at 10 p.m.; residents who work past that may arrange for late entry.

» Lights out at 9 p.m. for families with children and 10 p.m. for single adults.

» Belongings not placed in lockers and left unattended will be confiscated.

» No lying down in areas not designated for sleeping.

» Able residents are expected to leave the shelter during the day to work, seek work or attend classes or job training. “Rest passes” are available for those who need to remain in the shelter for sleep or health reasons. Mothers or fathers caring for young children can remain at the shelter with them during the day. In addition, IHS offers numerous daytime activities on-site, including support groups and other programs. “We are not closed during the day by any means,” Mitchell said. “We do encourage the able-bodied to get out and look for work.”

» No pets; limited exceptions for service animals. At least two other shelters on Oahu do accommodate pets, Mitchell said.

Emergency shelters are not meant to provide long-term housing, and “we offer a congregate living situation, which is not to everyone’s liking,” Mitchell said. “Of course, we hope people will achieve housing quickly so that they can enjoy greater liberty that comes with privacy and their own personal schedule.”

As of Thursday, IHS had space available for about 50 more people in its men’s emergency shelter and about three families and 10 women in its family emergency shelter, Mitchell said. The monthly rent is $90 for a single adult and $120 for a family, but fees can be waived for those with no resources. Besides a place to sleep, the cost includes three meals a day and access to supportive services on-site, including substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment and employment and housing services, she said. IHS also provides services to people who are living in cars or on the street.

Q: The underground employee parking lot at the Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building at 650 S. King St. is filthy. The ceiling light fixtures and water pipes are covered with spiderwebs. Under the light, the web is dangling above my head, and I saw live spiders weaving. The entrance to the stairwell at the mauka side leading to Beretania Street is covered with spiderwebs, too. Every time I leave or get into my car at the parking lot, I have to put on a hat because my face was caught with the web several times. This is an extremely unpleasant daily experience. The city needs to clean the parking lot ceiling regularly and hopefully not annually.

A: We passed your complaint on to the city’s Department of Facility Maintenance, which apologized for the accumulation of spiderwebs and spiders. Workers will be cleaning up the mauka stairwell near South Beretania Street and the parking stalls in that area due to your report. Ross Sasamura, the department’s director and chief engineer, said that the current workload and staffing restrict the department’s ability to consistently address these issues more often than annually. “However, we want to improve everyone’s experience with our parking structure and ask that people notify us of the specific areas where the spiders and webs pose problems when entering and exiting parked cars,” he said. “We will then address those areas more often as resources and workload permit.” (That’s aside from the area just described, which is now a priority.) To report a problem, call DFM at 768-3343.

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.