Let’s be more neighborly about new neighbors
Most locals realize that chipping away at Oahu’s homeless problem will require an infusion of thousands of affordable rentals and housing. Yet despite acknowledging the need, there often is lack of support or outright resistance when a project lands on a neighborhood’s doorstep. It’s a disconnect that has become glaring in recent weeks.
>> The latest project to receive a cold reception is the redevelopment of a 1.5-acre property in Pawaa bordered by Piikoi, Adler, Elm and King streets where the state is proposing an 18-story building with about 180 rental apartments above a few secure floors housing youth offenders. The Ala Moana-Kakaako Neighborhood Board entertained a motion to support the plan, but no one seconded the motion — therefore, there was no endorsement.
>> Last month, the same neighborhood board failed to endorse a 26-story high-rise proposed near Walmart on Sheridan Street that would include 163 condominiums. Twenty percent, or 33 of those units, would be reserved for moderate-income residents at affordable prices under city guidelines. One member explained the plan didn’t fit the area.
>> And last week the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee advanced a bill that proposes a moratorium on the construction of larger developments from Aiea to Kalihi as a way to help address traffic congestion.
There was strong opposition to a plan to add nearly 500 workforce housing units to the existing Moanalua Hillside Apartments, which are sorely needed. In addition, about 175 other area residents submitted a petition urging the Council to pass Bill 11 and stated the residents protest building permits to certain projects in the Aiea, Red Hill, Moanalua and Salt Lake areas.
Restricting construction simply to ease traffic is a dubious tact for the Council; the city Department of Planning and Permitting rightly pointed out that the bill would not solve traffic congestion.
What should be occurring as a matter of policy, as more neighborhoods are sure to see redevelopment, is more involvement by local transportation officials to help facilitate true traffic mitigations.
The concern of residents is understandable: development breeds more traffic, and new projects can change the landscape of established communities.
But to reach larger goals of housing the unsheltered in a state with the largest per-capita homeless population, more than 7,600 at last count, people must start accepting the reality that affordable housing stock is needed — even in our backyards and even if it’s a perceived inconvenience to existing residents.
For instance, the Pawaa project, though unconventional, is worthy of community support. The $80 million plan is being touted as an efficient and publicly beneficial reuse of a prime state property. Its dual purpose would be to serve juvenile offenders — as it currently does, but in underused fashion — as well as offer isle residents affordable units. Both are critical needs.
Funding, which is often a roadblock, appears to be on track with the Pawaa plan: the state Judiciary and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp., which facilitates affordable-housing development, plan to fund their own pieces of the project. HHFDC would contribute $54 million in existing housing funds while the Judiciary would allot $25.2 million.
It’s time for communities to start thinking on a broader scale when it comes our collective-community problems. Hawaii’s homelessness crisis will not solve itself. It will take an array of solutions, and key among them, is new affordable housing in welcoming neighborhoods.
22 responses to “Let’s be more neighborly about new neighbors”
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Lots of empty room in Kapolei, right next to the Star Advertiser building.
I think they need to be “more neighborly” in Kahala and Hawaii Kai.
…the state is proposing an 18-story building with about 180 rental apartments above a few secure floors housing youth offenders.
Hmmn, housing the homeless with aspiring young criminals, what could go wrong?
These projects won’t do much to reduce homelessness, but there are a lot of lower income working people and families who could use them. That’s who would benefit, if they get built.
“Most locals realize that chipping away at Oahu’s homeless problem will require an infusion of thousands of affordable rentals and housing. “>> No, most locals realize “affordable” housing doesn’t even exist for TWO income households and throwing money down a perpetual black hole isn’t EVER going to make things affordable. “Affordable” housing exists in places like Vegas or Arizona or states up north. THAT’S what locals realize.
Agree. These homeless can’t even qualify under “affordable” criteria. I believe most residents are willing to help homeless who have had unfortunate incidents occur in their lives which resulted in their situation…..who want to get out of that situation by working and being a productive member of society.
Its the homeless vagrants who contribute nothing and just want to leech off society that people are against, and rightfully so.
good points
Arizona is affordable. My friends live in Casa Grande and its cheap there so they don’t intend to move back here.
“As society continues to decay, more and people attack individual power and place their faith in a program that reduces every human to a lowest common denominator of dependence on some controlling entity. This article of faith is surrender.” “Passivity is a disease. It spreads and takes over. It makes strong people weak, and weak people demented. The passive life is precisely and exactly a life without power. The cure is a life lived with power.” “Civilization continues to erode and decay, as individual power is put on the back burner. But that doesn’t give the individual a license to surrender. If others want to give up, that’s their business. The individual, instead, finds new frontiers for his power, for his capacity to invent reality.” “Solutions to private problems and public problems require the ability to think things through, logically, and to reject what is unworkable or biased—but above and beyond that, a person needs to be able to imagine solutions that haven’t been tried before. He can’t keep asking other people to invent solutions for him.” IMUA!
Great projects! Sounds like what Seattle did and that’s helping the homeless population shrink…NOT!
Just saw a new homeless transplant from the mainland sleeping at Iolani Palace this morning. Luggage tags still attached to his carry-on being used as a pillow. Young able-bodied man in his early 20’s. Probably joining his mainland homeless friends begging for money at the Vineyard/Pali intersection.
My opinion is that Hawaii non-profits that focus on self-sustainability (aka homelessness) and churches should focus their resources on HAWAII FAMILIES first and foremost because their tax breaks are “funded” by resident taxpayers and businesses. Making it difficult for the mainland homeless to get state/county assistance may mitigate the influx. Ask the feds to fund the rehab of COFA-related homeless population. At this point, we can segregate the remaining homeless between four buckets: situational, lifestyle choice, mental issues, and substance abuse problems.
Allocate the most resources to the situational homeless by offering occupational training, financial management programs and subsidized rent.
No taxpayer-funded aid should go toward those that choose to be homeless (lifestyle choice). CPS should take their kids away, if any.
Those with mental problems should be provided medication and the proper medical supervision to facilitate public safety. CPS should take their kids away, if any.
Those using or in possession of illegal narcotics or under the influence should be arrested and imprisoned. CPS should take their kids away, if any. They can rehab in jail. Upon their release, hopefully they will be “clean” and able to gain employment. If they relapse, back to jail they go. Let’s get these mainland homeless junkies off the street.
Hey Leg, want a fast easy way to dramatically decrease the homeless population: tell Child Protective Services to do their job. Removing the homeless children and placing them with foster or adoptive families is a win-win-win. First, the kids are placed in a more stable environment with food and shelter. This, in and of itself, should be reason enough. Second, the affected homeless parents (if they cared more for their kids than their illegal drugs) may choose to get clean and take the necessary steps to re-enter society. Third, the homeless population declines and this is a boon for the residents and our economic driver Tourism.
Sounds like common sense. Separate the keiki from the destructive parents to break the cycle then begin rehab. What kind of legal actions would need to be taken to accomplish this?
“What kind of legal actions would need to be taken to accomplish this?”
A TRO against the ACLU from stopping this common sense approach?
Agree. Great suggestion. Need to be tough on those lazy bums who choose to not work and be homeless living off others.
Agree with “kekelaward” – build a homeless shelter/youth offenders facility next door to the Star Advertiser if there’s lots of space there. “Let US be more neighborly…” means them too. The editorial writers should be leading the way.
Personal Safety & Area Sanitation are major concerns when building these type of housing/facilities within established communities. You can’t just plunk ’em in & then leave; hoping for the best… which sounds like what the City & State plans to do. I think residents might be more willing to welcome these people to our neighborhoods if the State & City can guarantee that there will be a strong & active quality support network of agencies providing ONGOING assistance, mentoring & monitoring of them. We’ll be in an awful living situation if we end up having to depend only upon the Police to handle any new problems that arise; when Oahu police can’t even catch “normal” petty thieves; or monitor the conduct of their OWN officers… But we might all agree that THE Best places to build homeless/at-risk youth housing is near LAWMAKERS’ residences!!
you can’t have a welfare state with open borders
Extended the moratorium on development to Kakaako and the rest of Downtown/Ala Moana. The amount of over development is ridiculous. Where is the infrastructure and facilities to serve all these people?
Too much already. The public is speaking out but they need to make their vote count for those that got stink ear. And now these clowns are adding the homeless buzzword to con the public. And why should we keep building for homeless to encourage more and more. Just spend the money on a new police homeless task force to enforcse and make it tough for others to want to come.
More platitudes from the elite at the SA who probably have their luxury condo or house. Fact is, the homeless can’t afford what Hawaii considers “affordable” housing. Most homeless don’t work. How are they going to be able to afford a mortgage, or are the taxpayers going to cover all that for them? Please offer me free housing….I’ll move back!
The rise of newcomers is an issue, but overpopulation is the major issue!
What is wrong with this picture, Government wants to build new when they cant even take care of the housing projects that we already have. We have so many units in the projects that are vacant, start renovating what we have first and fill the vacancies before you start thinking of wasting tax payer dollars on new construction. Typical incompetent Government that we have.