Solutions for homeless can get creative

A major difficulty in tackling Hawaii’s homelessness problem lies not just in the intractability of the problem itself, but in the intractability of problem-solving abilities. So much bureaucracy, political entrenchment and business-as-usual resistance have calcified that it’s virtually paralyzed our ability to move forward, let alone think creatively.

That’s why when creative possibilities do emerge, they deserve support and an open-minded reception. Case in point: a proposal to use igloo-type domes to shelter homeless families as they strive to get back on their feet.

Last fall, Mayor Kirk Caldwell made a very public show in calling for churches and community groups to be part of the homelessness solution. Heeding that call this week, senior pastor Klayton Ko and his First Assembly of God church are offering to spend $9,500 apiece to buy a dozen igloo-type domes to shelter homeless, ideally families, who need the temporary help. The structures from Juneau, Alaska, are said to be livable for up to four people each, with 314 square feet under a 12-feet domed roof. They can be erected within four hours with the simplest of tools — screwdrivers and wrenches — using sweat equity.

The church — realizing its limitations and inability to provide deep social services to those chronically homeless due to mental and substance-abuse problems — envisions housing willing-and-able homeless families whose main misfortunes are bad luck and money problems. There is no shortage of folks who qualify, as our besieged communities know. The idea is for recipients to pay a nominal fee and help maintain the domes, crucial elements to instill responsibility. Pastor Daniel Kaneshiro said dome dwellers would not need to be church members, but mentioned “a spiritual aspect” and a willingness “to change internally.”

At the very least, this creative proposal should be lauded for its desire to be part of the homelessness solution. It should inspire other churches and community entities to do likewise, either to site some domes or to broach other creative solutions.

The church — which is seeking a “shelter village” site for the domes, private or public but low-cost — hopes Caldwell will make good on his pledge to clear permitting issues for entities that want to house some homeless.

This proposal also purposefully puts the ball back in Caldwell’s court, for him to follow through on helping community ideas succeed. City Council members, too, should help identify possible sites in their districts.

Government should be enabling smart options via, for example, expeditious permitting.

The goal is to thread ideas that work, not get entangled in what might not. The complex spectrum of homelessness has revealed a frustrating bureaucracy and almost-reflexive naysaying. We need to stop looking for reasons why we “cannot,” and start turning ideas into solutions that “can.”