I have been homeless for over eight years.

This year there were anecdotes reported by the homeless counters about persons refusing to be counted. Unlike last year when I was counted, this year I did not even see anyone counting the homeless in Kapolei, and I live near the park. In past years I’ve seen groups of counters, but not this year.

The reported homeless population of 4,500 is statistically ridiculous. With Oahu’s population at over 1 million, consider that:

>> 4-5 percent of the population have a mental disability, such as bipolar disorder (as I do);

>> 2 percent suffer from full-on mental retardation;

>> Over 10 percent are alcoholics or addicted to drugs.

Mathematically, even assuming only 0.5 percent of 1 million people aren’t able to house themselves, at least 50,000 should be homeless, not fewer than 5,000.

Crispin

Kapolei

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