Page 6 - MidWeek West - March 22, 2023

6
MARCH 22, 2023
Our affordable hous- ing shortage and homelessness crisis
CITY COUNCILMEMBER AUGIE TULBA
Actions That Tackle Homelessness In The Community
City councilmember Augie Tulba (left) and Institute for Human Services executive director Connie Mitchell pose at its ‘Imi Ola Piha facility. PHOTO COURTESY THE OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER TULBA
floor. I was so impressed with the Pūnāwai Rest Stop and believe there should be these
are two major issues that of- tentimes seem too complex to tackle. The city appropriates millions of tax dollars to ad- dress these problems, but ef- forts may go unnoticed amid the ever-growing homeless population. While the task seems daunting, there are re- sources that have opened up during my time at the City Council that I would like to highlight for our West O‘ahu community to know about.
On the second floor, the Kalihi-Pālama Health Center opened a medical clinic. On the third floor, is a medical respite program to provide bed space for homeless in- dividuals to recuperate after they receive medical care. Lastly, there are 20 permanent housing studios on the fourth
There are other actions the city is taking to curb homelessness. Implemented in 2021, the city’s Depart- ment of Emergency Services runs the Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement program. CORE dispatch- es medical technicians and social workers to respond to 911 calls about nonvio- lent, homeless individuals. Outreach workers try to get them placed into shelters or qualify them for affordable housing. I’ve watched these responders at work and be-
The city’s Department of Community Services over- sees a mobile program called Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons. HONU sets up 90- day triage shelters to provide short-term services and con- nect homeless with social service providers, long-term shelter and other housing options. It rotates between neighborhoods and was set up right here in Waipahu and ‘Ewa for a period of time.
If you would like more in- formation or have new ideas for the City Council to consid- er, my office is always avail- able to hear from you.
We toured the Pūnāwai Rest Stop, a city-funded re-
With assistance from the city, IHS opened its newest
Contact city Councilmem- ber Augie Tulba (D-9 — Waipahu, Iroquois Point, West Loch, ʻEwa Villages and portions of ʻEwa Beach) at 808- 768-5009 or atulba@ honolulu.gov.
source near the Institute for Human Services. On the first floor is a hygiene center where homeless individuals can check in, be evaluated, sign up for resources and take advantage of washer and dryer units, kennels for pets, lockers and storage.
types of facilities in each council district.
lieve this program should be expanded.
facility, ‘Imi Ola Piha, a stabi- lization center for chronically homeless individuals and it is the first community-based, medically monitored detox center on the island.
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