Public
Policy Center > Community
Program > Mini-Policy Forum Briefs
Homelessness in Hawaii
Homeless Forum November 19, 2003
(Download
forum as PDF)
The community forum on homelessness brought together various
segments of the community who are affected by homelessness
to discuss the serious issues related to homelessness.
Also included in the forum was a presentation that laid
out plans
to end homelessness. The following Policy Brief includes
information about the forum panelists and what they discussed,
questions and answers included in the forum as well as
information related to the forum presentation. Also included
in this
final brief is information from the community that relates
to homelessness in Hawai’i.
Addressing the issues related to decreasing resources and an increase in the
numbers of homeless in Hawai’i, both Lynn Maunakea and Linda Schaladermundt
discussed the shifting focus of service providers in addressing the needs of
the homeless population. With a shift in strategy focusing on the 10% of the
homeless population who is chronically homeless and using over 50% of the resources.
Both speakers believed that finding permanent and supportive housing for the
chronically homeless would free up some of the resources to effectively help
the other 10% who are mentally ill or suffer from substance abuse, and the
80% of the homeless who are temporarily homeless.
It was stated that the largest
percentage of homeless are those individuals and families who have suffered
some kind of trauma such as job loss or illness. This
population is rarely homeless for long periods of time or fall into homelessness
after they find housing.
One of the more important issues discussed at the homeless
forum was the need for more beds and housing to address
the needs of the homeless. Despite bringing
in 20 million dollars and working with Steadfast Housing, those homeless individuals
who seek the services of the Adult Mental Health division in Hawai’i
are faced with waiting lists and little options.
For those seeking shelter
at Institute of Human Services are faced with a lottery
draw to see who will be housed in Hawaii’s largest emergency shelter.
Awareness Week
The homeless forum was part of Hawaii’s National Hunger
and Homeless Awareness week, which included the 5k walk/run “Walk a
Mile in my Shoes,” a
service procider forum and several articles covering the issue and events
related to homelessness.
Honolulu Advertiser November 16,
2003
- Respect homeless people as individuals. Respond
with kindness.
- Make a donation to an organization that helps
homeless people.
- Urge organizations you are part of to donate
space or resources to provide shelter or services to
homeless people
- Volunteer your time to help homeless people Give.
- Giving
money to those who beg is a personal choice, but alternatives
include buying food or gift certificates
from fast-food restaurants.
Forum Panelists
Major Michael Tucker: In 2004,
Major Tucker will begin his 30th year as a police officer.
He originally
graduated
with a Bed. In secondary education from the University
of Hawai’i at Manoa in1972 and in 1973 he received
his Professional Teaching Diploma from the University of
Hawaii at Manoa. In 1992 Major Tucker graduated from Chaminade
University of Honolulu with a degree in Criminal Justice
Administration. In 1993 he attended the three-month F.B.I.
National Academy Associates at Quantico, VA and was the
chapter president for the F.B.I National Academy Associates
from 2001 to 2002. Major Tucker is currently completing
his fourth year as the Honolulu Police Department’s
District 1 Major, which primarily covers the downtown Honolulu
area, stretching from Liliha to Punahou Street and whose
resident population is roughly 70,000 people. Finally,
in 2004 Major Tucker will begin his 30th year as a police
officer.
Discussion: In talking about
the serious issues that surround homelessness, Major Tucker
discussed the
difficult role the
police are forced to play in dealing with homelessness. As
it currently stands, homelessness is not a crime and the
police don’t want “criminal laws used to attack
the condition of homelessness,” because the homeless
are the victims of both society and crime. The police are
required to respond to all calls for service, and in dealing
with the homeless situation, this often takes place when
the public calls and wants access to public parks and beach
facilities that are being occupied by the homeless. Police
don’t want to use criminal law to fight homelessness
nor do they have the resources to become the solution to
the homeless problem. However, according to Major Tucker,
the police are more than willing to work with the community
to develop alternative solutions that will be advantageous
for all those involved.
Lynn Maunakea: Since 1997,
Lynn Maunakea has been the Executive Director of the Institute
for Human
Services (IHS), Oahu’s
emergency homeless shelter. She moved to Hawaii in 1977 to
attend The University of Hawai’i at Manoa where she
earned a Masters Degree in Social Work, and prior to IHS,
Lynn managed a Based Grant and Loan Program for the Hawaii
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
Discussion: Lynn shared with
the panel and audience some of the changes she has seen take
place during her stay at
IHS. She has seen her agency grow from one small emergency
shelter to one shelter serving 240 men a night and another
shelter that serves women and families. Lynn also discussed
the increase in people seeking emergency shelter that has
forced her agency to beging using a lottery system to decide
who will be housed on any given night. Lynn also focused
her discussion on the change in strategy that IHS and other
service providers have taken in dealing with the homeless
population in lieu of the increasing number of homeless individuals
and families they are forced to serve with decreasing funds
and resources. “We started learning a couple of years
ago that we can do more than cycle people through the homeless
shelters.” With the utilization of current and accurate
data, IHS and other service providers have begun to break
down the homeless population into distinct groups instead
of classifying all homeless under one umbrella. For instance,
the chronically homeless account for only 10% of the homeless
population yet utilize over 50% of the resources. By using “evidence-based
practices” and utilizing data, Lynn believes that service
providers can both successfully move the chronically homeless
to permanent housing and be able to focus more resources
to service other homeless populations.
Linda Schladermundt:
Linda has been a registered nurse in Hawaii ksince 1977,
and received Masters Degree in Business
Administration in Healthcare Administration from Almeda College
and Universtity. Since her arrival in Hawai’i, Linda
has worked as the quality assurance coordinator at Straub
Hospital and Clinic, Kahi Mohala Treatment Center as the
Director of Quality Management and the Hawai’i State
Hospital in Kaneohe as the Associate Administrator and Acting
Administrator. Linda is currently the Oahu Service Area Administrator
for the Department of Health’s Adult Mental Health
Division.
Discussion: Linda focused her attention on the
work the Adult Mental Health Division is doing to help combat
homeless and
the increasing need for permanent and affordable housing.
As a result of the increasing need for housing in Hawai’i,
Adult Mental Health has added homelessness as a priority
in the department’s most recent strategic plan. They
have taken presumptive eligibility approach, which means
that any person who is homeless is automatically eligible
for housing services before eligibility for Adult Mental
Health services is determined. However, despite this change
in eligibility and bringing in over 20 million dollars and
1300 beds, Linda discussed turning away those in need and
the waiting list facing those who come to Adult Mental Health
for shelter. Linda ended here discussion by the community’s
need to collaborate and work as a team in developing effective
solutions to the problems facing both the homeless and the
service providers addressing homelessness.
Wanda Curry: For
the past eight years, Wanda is Director of Programs at Po’ailani,
inc. Dual Diagnosis Cintinuum of Care. Wanda has 15 years
experience providing treatment services for individuals with
alcohol and/or drug related problems and/or co-occurring
disorders. Since 1999, she has personally been providing
housing for homeless dually diagnosed individuals.
Discussion:
Wanda focused her discussion on the challenges faced by homeless
people living their lives on a day to day
basis as well as transitioning into permanent housing. Wanda
further discussed the debilitating stigma that is attached
to homelessness, and “while you never know who is homeless,” the
stigma is the most challenging aspect in dealing with the
issue as a whole. Wanda also discussed her personally experience
living dually diagnosed and homeless, her movement out of
homelessness, and her experiences as a landlord, providing
housing for the homeless. She pointed out that the homeless
don’t take for granted the things that a housed person
does daily such as showering, getting ready for work/school,
etc., and that transition into permanent housing takes time.
Jon Korrice: Currently, Jon
is the Circulation Director for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
and has been in the newspaper
business for over 20 years. Jon is the bainchild who created
and developed “Kid’s Day” where newspapers
are disseminated to support the Parents and Children Together
Program (PACT). Jon works closely with the homeless population
who distribute newspapers for the Star Bulletin.
Discussion:
Jon discussed the unique opportunity the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
gives members of the homeless community on
working towards self-suffiency. The paper currently employs
a large number of homeless individuals to work as “Hawkers,” selling
newspapers throughout the island. It is Jon’s belief
that most homeless people are homeless by chance and that
he and his paper are “always working towards helping
those who want to be helped.”
Margaret and Jordan Akau:
Homeless for more than two years and currently live at Sewers
Beach in Waianae. Both Margaret
and Jordan volunteer at the Waianae Communnity Outreach Program.
Magaret is a volunteer clerk and Jordan assists with the
food pantry and maintenance Both are attending Cbase, which
is a Competency Based High School Diploma Program offered
by the Department of Education. Both Magaret and Jordan are
also involved in the plans to develop the Village of Hope
at eh Boat Harbor in Waianae.
Discussion: Both Margaret and
Jordan openly discussed their current homeless situation
and what they are doing to improve
their lives. The couple first experienced homelessness 12
years ago, and lost hope when their two youngest children
were taken by CPS as a result of the couples drug and alcohol
abuse. Most recently, the couple have been homeless for the
last two years and living at Sewers beach in Waianae. However,
the couple has realized that “life is everything and
you cannot give up on life,” and have found hope and
are working towards improving their life. The couple also
spoke about working towards their high school diplomas and
the volunteer work they are performing at the outreach program.
Magaret, in discussing her volunteer work, shared with the
audience volunteering has been a way for her to give back
to those who have helped her and her husband as well as serving
as a way for her to develop skills that will help her find
work in the future.
Thanks to the Masters of Social Work
(MSW) students from the University of Hawai’i at
Manoa who took part in various forum activities.
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
About 50 people heard firsthand
what it is like to be homeless, work with the homeless
and live outside society in Hawai'i
during a forum yesterday at the State Capitol.
The forum,
sponsored by the service providers group Partners in Care,
was part of the National Hunger and Homelessness
Awareness Week activities in Hawai'i, and attempts to bring
more residents into discussions about the homeless.
Panelists
Margaret and Jordan Akau have lived on the beach at Wai'anae
for more than two years. They have no income,
limited education and because they were using drugs, their
two youngest children were taken away from them. Then the
Wai'anae Community Outreach program stepped in to offer them
hope for the future.
The couple realized their prospects were
dire without earning high school diplomas.
"
At first I never like go back to school. No like do nothing," Margaret
said. "With the help of the outreach program, I had
a chance to go back to school and Dec. 1, I will take my
test for a diploma."
In exchange for food and tuition,
the couple has been doing volunteer work with the program.
"
Life is everything," she said. "You cannot give
up on life no matter what."
The couple took part in the panel to support the idea of
Camp Hope, a proposed tent city to house the homeless on
five acres of city land beside Wai'anae Boat Harbor. The
plan has been criticized by some residents who say it would
be a magnet for the homeless.
The camp is needed, providers
say, because the number of homeless people continues to
rise and financing for services
is stagnant. A state report released this week shows that
the numbers have increase dramatically to 6,029 homeless
people on any given night, up from 3,171 four years ago.
Lynn
Maunakea, executive director of the Institute for Human
Services, said collecting the data is important for deciding
about the best ways to help the homeless.
Maunakea told the group that 10 percent of the homeless
are considered chronic with mental health and substance
abuse
problems and can be helped. Another 10 percent are substance
abusers who simply don't want help. The majority, 80 percent,
move in and out of homelessness and existing programs have
so many clients they are forced to turn people away. Service
providers are relatively successful when they can help,
she said.
Following criticism about police treatment of homeless
people, Honolulu Police Maj. Michael Tucker said the homeless
are
treated like anyone else and are victims of both circumstances
and crime.
"
The community wants access to areas occupied by the homeless
and they call us," Tucker said. "We don't want
to be in a position that laws are used to find a solution
for homelessness. Incarceration is not the best alternative
for mental illness."
Rebecca Anderson, chairwoman of the week's events, said there's
a 10-year plan to end homelessness in Hawai'i.
"
The 10-year plan needs to have a really broad ownership so
a lot of people are vested in it," Anderson said. "I
think we did that. We saw some faces (at the forums) we have
never seen before."
Local Homeless Shelters and Service Providers Offer Community
Tours
A number of local service providers who serve individuals
who are homeless opened their doors to the public and offered
tours to help bring awareness to their
programs and how they are affected by homelessness. The tours took place after
the homeless forum where descriptions of the participating programs and accompanying
maps were handed out to all those interested. The programs who participated included:
Safe
Haven: A program that provides services to individuals
who are homeless and suffer from a severe mental illness
such
as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder,
or major depression. Safe Haven is located in the heart of downtown Honolulu
and provides services to many homeless individuals who are in the area. Up to
25 individuals are able to reside at Safe Haven and other individuals are able
to come in during the day for activity center activities. Activity Center activities
include: Showers, meals, laundry, and recreational activities. Safe Haven is
a collaborative project between Mental Health Kokua and Kalihi-Palama Health
Center’s, Health Care for the Homeless Project, and services include case
management, medical and psychiatric treatment.
Institute for Human Services (IHS):
An emergency shelter that provides 3 meals per day, toiletries, clothing, case
management, mail and telephone messages,
etc. Through community collaborations, the shelter is also able to offer on-site
counseling such as anger management, family enrichment, substance abuse counseling
as well as having the ability to offer medical and dental care. All IHS services
are free and are available to anyone who is homeless. Through case management
activities and rent subsidies, IHS has a permanent housing program that help
chronically homeless individuals find and remain in permanent housing. Catholic
Charities: Ma’ili Land is a transitional housing program, which
accommodates 45 families for up to 24 months. The program provides services such
as case management, housing and financial counseling, skills preparation, education,
and a children’s program. ‘
Ohana Ola ‘O Kahumana: A transitional housing program that assists homeless
adults with minor children for up to 24 months.
Posted in Honolulu Advertiser November 16, 2003
New York City has perhaps
the nation's best ongoing operation to end homelessness. Sam Tsemberis,
executive director of Pathways to Housing Inc. in New York
City, visited Honolulu last month to discuss his program of getting chronic
homeless off the streets and into apartments of their own with assistance
from local care providers.
Tsemberis said most homeless programs require
clients to participate in drug, job or counseling programs before being
provided housing, but Pathways
follows
a "housing first" model that puts clients into homes before working
on personal problems.
"
We can put somebody in an apartment, pay 80 percent of the rent with
government funding, and provide treatment for $5,000 per year cheaper
than it cost to
put them in a shelter cot," he said.
Landlords have learned to trust
the program because the tenants are supported by the agency and they
know the rent will be paid on time and any problems
are dealt with by case workers.
"
We can cure homelessness," he said. "There is a fix and we are
doing it right now."
Locally, Health Care for the Homeless and IHS are running Shelter
Plus Care housing first programs, but with a tight housing market,
apartments
are hard
to find and landlords are wary of taking in homeless tenants with
substance-abuse and mental-illness problems…
Staff writers Christie
Wilson, Kevin Dayton, and Jan Tenbruggencate contributed to this
report. Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com
or 535-2431.
Questions from the Audience
There was a portion of the forum set aside in
order for audience members to ask questions of the panelists. The following
is a summary of some of
the questions raised and how the panelists addressed the issues raised.
While the developers of this final report attempted to be as accurate
as possible in it’s reporting of the forum events, this is just a summary
of the answers and questions and the information below is not directly
quoted. Question (REP. CYNTHIA THIELEN): Are there state, federal tax incentives
to encourage private developers to build housing for people in transition?
Answer: NO. --But she is drafting a bill asking for state to legitimize
illegal vacation rentals on Oahu so that they can use back? taxes and new
taxes generated
toward fund for homelessness--will "earmark all taxes not presently
being paid to be directed toward homeless fund--enthusiastically supports
Rep. Chun-Oakland's "Unclaimed Property Bill"--did not expand on
that bill.
Question (To the Akaus): What is the hardest part of finding a
home?
Answer: The finances. Being unemployed makes it difficult to get a place.
Also, the rents are so high we can’t afford to pay it. Stigma, people
label us, but not all homeless are bad.
Question: Are there enough vacant
apartments? Are there requirements for new buildings?
Answer (Lynn Maunakea): No. Policy of IHS board of directors is to provide
emergency shelter and our board of directors has chosen not to expand its’ housing
services. But we understand that Hawai’i is behind in housing development.
Mutual Housing is developing some, but it is not a money making venture so
developers are not willing to take the risk to develop housing for the homeless
population.
Question: Is there affordable medical/dental?
Answers: ~Wanda Curry - At Pualani, social workers work to get clients
health care.
~ Linda Schladermundt - Case managers at Adult Mental Health Division are
responsible for assisting with mental health services as well as medical
and dental.
~ Lynn Maunakea - Kalihi-Palama Health Center has Healthcare for the Homeless
program. Dental is a need identified by the homeless during a survey.
~Laura Thielan - Majority of dental care consists of extractions. Dental
care is a major need.
Question: What percentage of the homeless
population is Hawaiian?
Answer (from audience): About 37% according
to this morning's paper. Question:
What is Camp Hope? (located at Waianae Boat Harbor)
Answer: ~J.
Akau - A place of healing to help everybody get back on their feet and
give them hope.
~M. Akau - People working together. All homeless
on Waianae coast. Bring them off the beaches to heal themselves. With a
stable place to live they
can heal inside. Form by people in the community.
~Tulu (Waianae Community
Outreach Homeless Specialist) - Site chosen to heal and help the population
who want to change life and be self-sufficient. From
transitional housing shelters to permanent housing.
What is Camp Hope?
One topic of concern discussed at the homeless forum was
the proposed Camp Hope. What camp hope is and its’ purpose remained
unclear for many of those who attended the forum. The proposed camp hope
would be located at Wai’anae
Boat Harbor and would provide a safe place for many homeless people already
spread throughout the Wai’anae beach areas. Camp Hope would be
a clean and sober encampment where there would be a 24 hour case management
service
that would be providing services to those at camp hope and linking those
in need to community resources.
Hawaii’s Action Plan to End Homelessness
Laura E. Thielen, Project
Coordinator for Kalihi Palama Health Center’s
Healthcare for the Homeless Program, provided an overview of Hawaii’s
Action Plan to End Homelessness. The plan was created in May of 2003 through
combined efforts from service providers and consumers. It is a working
document that addresses issues of homelessness and an action plan to prevent
homelessness
in the future. The action plan is a draft and is expected to alter over
the next 10 years to accommodate additional issues that may impact people
who
are homeless.
The guiding principles of the plan are as follows:
- Homelessness
in unacceptable in community
- Society benefits when all individuals have
access to safe, decent, affordable housing
- Equal needs for all segments
of the homeless population
- Attentive to cultural aspects of homelessness.
E.g. Waianae
- It’s a solvable problem
- We have the political, social, and moral will
to make it happen
- We will hold ourselves & all community policymakers & leaders
accountable
- We will not only “manage” homelessness – we
need to solve homelessness & its related problems
- Housing
First Approach – housing is directly related to
improved healthcare.
- Hawaii is different from other regions. The plan
will reflect the uniqueness of Hawaii & the homeless
population.
- The active participation of consumers to develop & implement
this plan is essential to its success
- Develop partnerships
with businesses, service providers, community & faith-based
organizations, government entities & consumers to develop & implement
this plan
- Evidence based best practices will be incorporated.
- Prevention is essential
within any plan that intends to end homelessness & incorporate
prevention.
The goals of the plan are as follows:
- Goal
#1: Access to Appropriate, Affordable, Safe and Decent Housing for
All
- Goal
#2: Prevent Individuals and Families from Becoming Homeless
- Goal #3: Decrease
Barriers to Housing
- Goal #4: Improve Data Collection/Research
- Goal #5: Provide Appropriate
Support Services
- Goal #6: Create Collaborative Partnerships to End Homeless
The
presentation stressed the importance of everyone working together to
accomplish the goal of ending homelessness in Hawaii. An executive summary
of
the plan
was provided
to attendees of the forum; however, copies of the complete
plan are available by contacting Laura E. Thielen at 791-6344 or by e-mailing
her at lthielen@kphc.org.
Honolulu Advertiser November 16, 2003
-
People choose to be homeless. Nationally, 2.5 million to 3.5 million
people are homeless every year and an estimated 500,000 low-income housing
units
are also lost each year. Private developers sometimes concentrate on
lucrative housing and commercial projects and can destroy affordable housing
in the
process of urban renewal and gentrification.
-
Homeless people don't want to
be helped. Recent studies show that even the severely disabled mentally
ill, chronically homeless people will accept
help with approaches and strategies appropriate to their circumstances.
Homeless people's resistance to help is often their own attempt at some
measure of
self-dignity.
-
Homeless people are mostly able-bodied men who don't want to
work. The fastest-growing segment of the homeless population is families
with young
children. Other new homeless include battered wives and runaway and
throwaway children.
-
Most of Hawaii's homeless are shipped here from the Mainland. One
survey from a major downtown homeless service provider shows that of
3,720 clients,
1,588 or 43 percent, have lived in Hawai'i for five years or more;
632 or 17 percent had lived here from one to five years; and 1,501 or 40
percent
had lived here for less than a year.
-
Homeless people commit more crimes than
other people do. The arrest rate for homeless people committing violent
felonies is about one-half of those
with homes. When crimes are committed by homeless people they are usually
misdemeanors committed to secure food or a place to sleep.
Source: Partners
in Care
|
