Make homes for the homeless a routine story

The city-owned modular rentals in Waianae would seem to be an excellent next step toward self-sufficiency for their new formerly homeless tenants, whose happy reactions were reported in Sunday’s Star-Advertiser.

The story told by a couple, who now have a more suitable place to raise their toddler, is a heartwarming one.

There should be more such stories. It’s nice to see the city pilot its housing strategy in this way, but such solutions need to be replicated 100 times over. Let’s hope the push to solve homelessness picks up steam in 2017 — at both the city and state levels.

Help those in need by walking and counting

For the many people out there who like to talk the talk when it comes to helping homeless folks, here’s your chance to walk the walk. Literally.

The annual Point in Time Count needs about 500 volunteers to fan out across Oahu during the week of Jan. 23 to gather crucial data, asking homeless people the question: “Where did you sleep the night of Jan. 22?” The count results have real implications, such as amount of federal funding.

Accuracy counts, but it was shaky last year due to shortage of volunteers. Help be part of the solution. For more information, call Aloha United Way’s 211 helpline, or click onto www.partnersincareoahu.org/2017-point-time-count-oahu.