On the last Thursday of this month, the Rev. Greg Johnson will walk up and down South King Street, inviting homeless people to follow him to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church to enjoy a hot meal, maybe pick up some gently used clothes, and touch base with various organizations that offer assistance.
“We have all these terrific services,” said Johnson, referring to the monthly pop-up Moiliili Homeless Service Center, organized by the Institute for Human Services, which will next be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 27 on the church’s grounds, 2062 S. King St.
During July’s event a piano played familiar old tunes accompanied by singing that could be heard out on the street. Anyone venturing into the church was greeted warmly and invited to sit down and eat.
“These are children of God coming for help,” Johnson said, nodding toward a few people sitting on a stone wall fronting the church where he serves as senior pastor.
Since March IHS has set up shop at the church on the last Thursday of each month to sign up people for Housing First and employment programs. Also providing services are the Hawaii Foodbank, the University of Hawaii’s Mobile Medical Unit, Action with Aloha Substance Abuse Counseling, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and Mental Health Kokua. St. Mary’s and volunteers from three other Episcopal churches supply hot lunches, donated clothing and spiritual counseling.
IHS Executive Director Connie Mitchell said for the past three months, an average of 45 clients have tapped into services at St. Mary’s. “We expect to see momentum build as there is a high demand for services in the community,” she said.
IHS officials concede, however, that the service center effort has been stymied from the start by a scheduling snafu. Each month, while the pop-up was underway, city officials conducted homeless camp sweeps at nearby Old Stadium Park.
“It’s so frustrating,” said Johnson at the July event. Wiping perspiration from his face, he had just returned from the park where, he said, “the city is doing a sweep right now.” The homeless are “afraid to leave their things … everything they own,” to come to St. Mary’s for the services.
When asked by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser about the problem, Mitchell said in an email statement, “Like any start-up venture, it has taken some time to coordinate a schedule between the City and IHS that does not negatively impact our Homeless Outreach in Moiliili.”
The city sweeps are part of the enforcement of the “sit-lie” law passed last year.
In its response to the Star-Advertiser’s question about the timing of sweeps at Old Stadium Park, Deputy Managing Director Georgette Deemer said in an email statement this week, “The City’s Department of Facility Maintenance has been notified about IHS’ Homeless Outreach schedule in Moiliili and plans to halt any enforcement actions on the IHS drop-in service center dates. This allows people to access services that will help end their homelessness.”
The promised halt in enforcement is welcome news for individuals such as Tina Rodrigues, who said her belongings were whisked away in the July park sweep.
That day, Rodrigues said, she was riding a bus to an appointment concerning her daughter when a friend called and warned her about the sweep. “They took everything, down to pictures of my kids,” Rodrigues said, her voice breaking. “All my clothes, my bedding. I have nothing now. If you’re not with your belongings, they take it and throw it away.”
At the church Rodrigues said, “I came here to get legal aid help and to get food — I was starving.” During a previous visit she signed up for housing, but was still waiting for an opening.
According to a news release, IHS anticipated a migration of homeless people into the Moiliili and Makiki areas after the Honolulu City Council passed its initial sit-lie law in September. The law now prohibits people from sitting or lying in economic centers such as Waikiki, downtown and Chinatown but has indirectly spawned new homeless encampments elsewhere. The Moiliili Homeless Service Center is modeled after a successful operation opened in Haleiwa three years ago; IHS intends to eventually open the Moiliili operation on a weekly basis.
At July’s event a man who called himself David and declined to give his last name said he has long supported himself by recycling cans, bottles and scrap metal. He was able to pick up a few items of clothing that day.
When asked about the ongoing effort at St. Mary’s, David said, “It helps a lot. They’re willing to help without a lot of questions asked.” He added, “It’s good just having someplace to eat.”
