HAWAII’S LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE STATE’S HOMELE¶¶ SS CRISIS.

COULD TINY HOMES BE THE ANSWER?

THE STATE PLANS TO DEVELOP  VILLAGES COMPRISED OF TINY HOMES TO SHELTER THE HOUSELESS, BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WHERE THESE COMMUNITIES WILL BE BUILT.

WE’RE ASKING HOW THESE CONCERNS ARE BEING ADDRESSED AND THE STATUS OF FUTURE VILLAGES.

TONIGHT’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.

¶¶ >>YUNJI: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M YUNJI DE NIES.

AFTER TAKING OFFICE, GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN SIGNED AN EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION ON HOMELESSNESS, ALLOWING THE STATE TO CUT THROUGH THE RED TAPE TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF KAUHALE VILLAGES.

THESE COMMUNITIES ARE COMPRISED OF MODEST HOUSING UNITS FOR INDIVIDUALS OR SMALL HOUSEHOLDS WITH SHARED SPACE FOR COOKING, EATING AND RECREATION.

THE STATE IS HOPING TO BUILD 12 VILLAGES THIS YEAR AND 20 BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR, BUT NOT EVERYONE’S FOR IT, WITH SOME RESIDENTS SAYING NOT IN MY BACKYARD, BUT IS THIS SHORT‑TERM HOUSING MODEL A BETTER WAY TO ADDRESS OUR LONG‑TERM HOMELESS EPIDEMIC?

THAT’S WHAT OUR PANEL WILL DISCUSS TONIGHT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS, AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

JOHN MIZUNO IS THE STATE COORDINATOR ON HOMELESSNESS.

HE WAS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR GREEN AND HAS BEEN ON THE JOB SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

PRIOR THIS, HE SERVED IN THE STATE HOUSE FOR NEARLY 20‑YEARS.

CONNIE MITCHELL IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN SERVICES OR IHS.

THE NON‑PROFIT HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXIT HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING A NUMBER OF SERVICES INCLUDING FOOD, SHELTER, HEALTH AND EMPLOYMENT.

AND KIMO CARVALHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOME AID HAWAII.

THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON CREATING HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.

THE NON‑PROFIT IS PARTNERING WITH THE STATE TO BUILD THE KAUHALE TINY VILLAGES.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

WE'VE HEARD THE GOVERNOR TALK AT LENGTH ABOUT KAUHALE.

FOLKS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT, TELL US BRIEFLY WHAT IS KAUHALE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

VILLAGE CONCEPT.

COMMUNAL LIVING.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE THE SERVES ALMOST LIKE OHANA.

VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR IN HELPING OUR PEOPLE GET DIGNITY.

SELF‑WORTH, SELF‑CONFIDENCE.

THAT'S BASICALLY THE CONCEPT OF KAUHALE.

IT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

WE'RE HOPING TO BUILD OPEN UP MORE KAUHALE.

>>Yunji: WORKED WITH THIS ISSUE FOR MANY.

MANY YEARS.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS APPROACH?

>> I THINK IT'S EMPHASIS ON RELATIONSHIPS.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK VILLAGE, IT MEANS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER, REALLY HELPING EACH OTHER.

AND THAT REALLY HELPS CUT DOWN ON THE COSTS OF OTHER THING, STAFFING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

REALLY TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES.

NEED SOME FACILITATION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

ALONG WITH THE BUILDING AND PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THERE, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ARE VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

>>Yunji: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THESE ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE.

AGENCY IS RESPONSIBLE TO BUILD THEM.

WE KNOW THEY KIND OF DIFFERENT REGION BY REGION NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD.

EVERY KAUHALE IS WHAT WE SAW ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE QUEEN'S MEDICAL CENTER WITH THOSE SMALL UNITS.

TELL US WHAT THESE ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE PHYSICALLY.

>> SURE.

SO WE'RE FOCUS FIRST AND FOREMOST SUBPOPULATION OF HOMELESSNESS.

MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES AND VILLAGES ARE TAILORED TO THOSE WOULD WE'RE SERVING.

HOMELESS VETERAN, KUPUNA, HOMELESS YOUTH, MEDICALLY FRAIL HOMELESS THAT NEEDS DIFFERENT TYPE OF SERVICE.

>> OUR PHYSICAL COMMUNITIES CAN ACTUALLY DIFFER BASED ON JUST THOSE POPULATIONS ALONE.

OUR TINY HOMES, THEY'RE ABOUT 100 SQUARE FEET.

VERY COMFORTABLE.

WE GET A LOT OF JUDGMENT FOR THEM.

EVERY CLIENT I TALKED TO, FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE IN THEM.

FEEL A SENSE OF DIGNIFIED HOUSING.

THEY HAVE A SPACE TO KEEP THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS SAFE.

LOCK THEIR DOORS.

HAVE WINDOWS.

CEILING FAN.

ELECTRIC.

THESE HOMES ARE OF COURSE NOT PERMITTED.

NO CODE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII FOR TINY HOMES.

SO WE ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION ON HOMELESSNESS.

NEVER COMPROMISE HEALTH, SAFETY CULTURAL OR ENVIRONMENT WHEN WE DEVELOP.

ALLOWS US OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS THAT OTHERWISE WOULDN'T BE APPROVED OR PERMITTED HERE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.

FOR MOST OF THESE COMMUNITIES THE ONE IN WINDWARD OAHU OR MIDDLE STREET ON OAHU.

REAL HOMES ONE OF OUR MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING INVENTORY THAT WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR QUITE A WHILE.

>>Yunji: DID I HEAR CORRECTLY, 100 SQUARE FEET?

THAT SOUNDS VERY SMALL.

>> IT IS.

SPACIOUS.

THINK SPACE‑SAVING.

FOR A LOT OF OUR CLIENTELE, AFFORDABILITY OF DEVELOPING THESE HOMES ACTUALLY IS PAST ON TO A FORM OF RENT.

LOWEST AREA MEDIAN INCOME OF OUR POPULATION RENT THEY NEED.

STARTER HOME, COME OFF THE STREETS, FEEL SAFE.

START GETTING CONNECTED TO HYGIENE AND CRITICAL SERVICE.

DEVELOPMENTS ARE AFFORDABLE AND OUR APPROACH TO HOUSING IS IS TO MAKE THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS MORE AFFORDABLE THROUGH DEEP DISCOUNTS IN DONATED MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES AND PRO BONO LABOR.

PART OF THAT ALSO IS DEVELOPING SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT MEANS YOU HAVE SHARED LAUNDRY, KITCHENS, HYGIENE CENTER, SO RESTROOM SHOWERS, AND SO THAT REDUCES COST ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHICH ALLOW US TO ACTUALLY PASS ON EVEN MORE AFFORDABILITY TO END USER WHICH HOMELESS.

>>Yunji: KEY ON SOMETHING HE SAID.

RENT.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE FOLKS STAYING IN THESE MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE PUT IN SOME MONEY.

TELL US ABOUT ELIGIBILITY, COSTS HOW DOES ONE GET TO LIVE IN A KAUHALE?

>> PERSON IS HOMELESS, THE OPERATOR CONNIE HOMELESS GUY, SHE WOULD SIGN ME UP FOR MEDICAID.

COVERED FOR HEALTH CARE.

FEDS PAY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THAT.

THAT'S A WIN FOR THE STATE.

SECOND, MAKE SURE THAT I APPLY AND GET SNAP.

FOOD STAMPS.

SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

448 MILLION, STATE EVERY YEAR.

WOULD HAVE THOUGHT HOMELESS AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES CAN HELP WITH THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

THIRD, CHECK TO SEE IF I CAN QUALIFY FOR SSI, OR GENERAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE.

450, 900.

ASSISTANCE.

400.

I COULD BE PAYING RENT.

USUALLY WE ASK FOR 3 TO 6 MINUTES.

HIT AT THAT PERIOD, I'M GETTING MONEY, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY.

WE SHOULD NOT RESPECTFULLY HAVE ANY FREE RIDES.

IT'S SELF‑WORTH.

BUT DIGNITY AND DOING THE RIGHT THING.

SO PEOPLE THINK HOMELESS ARE GETTING FREE RIDE.

NOT ACTUALLY TRUE.

THEY'RE HELPING OUR ECONOMY MOVE FORWARD.

RIGHT THING DO.

>> A LOT OF THEM ACTUALLY FIND WORK.

WE REALLY FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

SO FOR SOME OF THEM, WITH THEY START TO EARN A LIVING AND NOW, MINIMUM WAGE GONE UP CERTAINLY CAN AFFORD TO PAY SOMETHING.

>>Yunji: HOW MUCH WOULD THAT SOMETHING BE?

>> I THINK MOST OF THEM ARE STARTING AT ABOUT 250.

$250.

AND THEN SOME OF THEM ARE MORE.

WE KIND OF GAUGE WHAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO PAY.

VERY MODEST ROOM FOR FOLKS AFTER A WHILE, THEY REALIZE, OKAY, MAYBE I WILL MOVE ON BECAUSE YOU WERE SAYING 100 SQUARE FEET.

FOR SOME PEOPLE, BELIEVE ME, REALLY COMFORTING TO HAVE THAT SPACE.

100 SQUARE FEET OF YOUR OWN COMPARED TO LIVING ON THE STREET IS A LUXURY FOR THEM.

I THINK IT'S REALLY PERSPECTIVE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

IN TERMS OF WHAT KIND OF SPACE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE.

>>Yunji: RIGHT.

JUST THE ABILITY TO CLOSE AND LOCK A DOOR.

>> EXACTLY.

>>Yunji: HAVE PRIVACY AND THAT SECURITY.

AGENCY OPERATING ONE OF THESE KAUHALE, TELL US ABOUT THE ONE YOU'RE RUNNING AND HOW IT COMPARES TO THE OTHERS.

>> OUR KAUHALE WE JUST OPENED LAST MONTH PAEPAE HOU DIFFERENT SORT OF ONE.

KIMO DIDN'T BUILD THAT ONE FOR US.

COMPRISED TWO LARGE HOUSES THAT HAVE TOGETHER I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 8 OR 9 BEDROOMS AND IT REALLY, PROVIDES ENOUGH SPACE FOR 12 PEOPLE TO LIVE VERY COMFORTABLY.

BUT IT REALLY ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER AND THINK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO CARE FOR THESE TWO HOUSES.

THIS COMMUNITY NOW.

AND TAKE TURNS DOING CERTAIN CHORES, COOKING, MAYBE.

SHARING THE FOOD.

WE ALSO HAD THE REAL PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A COMMUNITY FARMER COME AND ACTUALLY HELP US.

WITH ESTABLISHING SOME AQUAPONIC AND HYDROPONIC GROW SYSTEMS.

SO YOU SHOULD SEE THE LETTUCE.

WONDERFUL LETTUCE.

NEVER SEEN SUCH WONDERFUL LETTUCE HE'S GROWN.

A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GROWING.

THAT CONTRIBUTING TO INVITING PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AS WELL.

BUT THESE ARE FOLKS COMING IN HAVE COMPLETED TREATMENT IN SOME KIND OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

SPECIFIC.

POPULATION WE'RE WORKING WITH.

DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES KIMO BUILT.

MORE GENERAL TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE IN A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY.

LIKE WINDWARD OR BY MIDDLE STREET.

I THINK A LOT OF THOSE, IT'S REALLY MORE GEOGRAPHICAL.

OURS IS PARTICULAR POPULATION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE.

>>Yunji: HOW DOES IT ONE DAY‑TO‑DAY?

SECURITY OR SOCIAL WORKER OR I DON'T KNOW, FOR LACK OF RESIDENTIAL VISIONER?

THINKING OF LIKE A COLLEGE DORM.

ADVISOR.

MANAGE THE FRONT DESK IF YOU WILL.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER BECAUSE I KNOW DEPENDING ON VILLAGE, THERE COULD BE A DIFFERENT SERVICE PROVIDER.

WHAT IS THE OBLIGATION THERE AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO RUN ONE OF THESE.

>> FOR US WE HAVE A RESIDENT MANAGER.

WHO BASICALLY BE THERE TO HELP FACILITATE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

ALSO HAVE PERSON WHO IS CASE MANAGER.

WHO REALLY WILL CONNECT THAT PERSON UP WITH OTHER SERVICES AT THAT THEY NEED.

LOOKING AT HOUSING NAVIGATION AS THEY MOVE TOWARD MAYBE LOOKING AT A MORE PERMANENT PLACE AFTER THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.

REALLY EXPECT PEOPLE TO STAY FOR AT LEAST A FEW MONTHS.

THERE AT THAT ONE.

BECAUSE REALLY NEED TO REGAIN A SENSE OF THEIR OWN COMPETENCY AND SO I THINK WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AND THEY FEEL LIKE, I CAN MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS I WANT MAYBE MORE PRIVACY MORE RELATIONSHIPS MOVE ON NATURALLY.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU GOT TO GO AFTER A CERTAIN TIME.

>> RIGHT.

OKAY.

HOW ARE YOU IDENTIFYING THE LAND THAT THESE ARE BUILT ON?

>> PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT, WE ARE ABLE TO COMB THROUGH ALL DIFFERENT AGENCIES WOULD WHO OWN LAND.

DLR, DHHL, DAGS, ALL LANDOWNERS WITHIN THE STATE ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT WE DO IS ASSESS REMNANT PARCELS OR UNUSED LANDS THAT CAN BE DEVELOPABLE.

I THINK THAT TALKING ABOUT JOHN ABOUT TODAY.

ONE OF THE OUTCOMES GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS WHOLE JOURNEY IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE LANDS THAT STATE OWNS OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE UTILIZED PREVIOUSLY.

AND I THINK THAT'S EXCITING.

WE FIRST AND FOREMOST, RIGHT NOW, I'M A ASSESSING ABOUT 40 PLUS LAND ACROSS THE STATE OF HAWAII.

I JUST GOT BACK FROM BIG ISLAND YESTERDAY.

WE DROVE FROM HILO TO KONA ASSESSING ABOUT JUST UNDER A DOZEN SITES.

WE BRING CIVIL ENGINEER.

PLANNER.

WE LOOK AT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

SEWAGE, WATER, ELECTRIC.

FROM THERE, DETERMINE WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE DENSITY FOR THE SITE.

BASED ON SIZE OF THE SITE AND WHAT IS HUMANE AND DIGNIFIED SENSE THAT COMMUNITY.

WORK WITH JOHN AND HIS TEAM NARROW DOWN THE SITES WHICH ONES DO WE WANT TO FOCUS ON.

WHAT DOES THIS LIKE LOOK LIKE HOMELESS POPULATION OF AREA AND OUR APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT IS NOT JUST FOCUS ON CONSTRUCTION AND LAND AND BUILDING PROCESS.

ALSO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY, UNDERSTAND WHO IS HOMELESS, AND WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS HELPING ACTUALLY HOMELESS GET OFF THE STREETS.

MOST TIMES THAT BECOMES EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, CONVERSATION, AND FROM THERE, WE HAVE THE FACTS AFTER BEING ABLE TO COUPLE LAND WITH NEEDS OF COMMUNITY.

>>Yunji: HOW HAS THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE BEEN?

WE KNOW WITH THE QUEEN'S SITE, FIRST ONE IN THE STATE, GOVERNOR SORT OF MADE A BIG SHOW OF THIS IS IN MY BACKYARD.

BECAUSE GOVERNOR'S HOUSE IS RIGHT THERE.

RIGHT ACROSS, NOT EVEN ACROSS THE STREET.

ON THE SAME BLOCK.

HOW IS THAT BEING RECEIVED?

>> TO BE 100% HONEST, MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT I GO INTO, HAS A LOT OF SUPPORTERS AROUND THE CONCEPT OF HOUSING HOMELESS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THE VOCAL MINORITY DOES COME OUT AND OFTENTIMES, IT'S OKAY.

WE UNDERSTAND THE BASELINE OF INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE OFF OPERATING FROM.

OFTEN THE COMMON THEME IS ALWAYS SAFETY, RISK OF CRIME WE HAVE GO EDUCATION CAMPAIGN OF REALLY HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND WHO IS HOMELESS, WHO IS NOT, WHY IS THERE SAFETY ISSUES.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT BEEN ONE COMMUNITY THAT I HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT DIDN'T RUN INTO AT LEAST SOME CONFLICT.

DOESN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT THESE ARE BAD COMMUNITIES.

ACTUALLY, JUST WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

THEY WANT TO BE HEARD.

WHEN I USED TO WORK FOR IHS WITH CONNIE, INTERESTING BECAUSE EVERY DEVELOPMENT AND EVERY COMMUNITY THAT WE OPENED HAS ACTUALLY BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.

HASN'T ACTUALLY BEEN THOSE SERIOUS ISSUES.

ANY OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE BUILT, THAT WE'VE BUILT.

IN FACT, BY THINK ABOUT KAHAUIKI VILLAGE, WE'VE PUUHALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLOSING DOWN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS TO FIT DESKS OR DESKS TO FIT THE TEACHERS HELPED STIMULATE ECONOMY OF THE AREA TO JOHN'S POINT.

HAD MEDICAL OFFICES, GROCERY STORES, RESTAURANTS, STIMULATED.

BUS ROUTES THAT ACTUALLY HAD PASSENGERS.

I THINK KAUHALE AND THE COMMUNITIES WE GO TO ADD VALUE AN THINK WHEN WE GO INTO THESE COMMUNITIES WE HELP EDUCATED THEM ABOUT THOSE POSITIVE IMPACTS START SEEING A SHIFT.

EXPERIENCED THAT BIG ISLAND.

IT WAS AMAZING.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WE WENT TO THE BIG ISLAND HILO, AND I THOUGHT TOLD KIMO I THINK GOING TO BE HARSH.

WE'RE GOING TO GET YELLED AT.

I WAS SURPRISED.

I THINK HALFWAY THROUGH, PEOPLE WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

VERY WARM.

APPRECIATIVE.

VERY SUPPORTIVE OF HELPING HOMELESS IN THIS KAUHALE METHOD.

I WAS AMAZED.

I WAS ACTUALLY SHOCKED.

I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO BE ANGRY.

TO GO BACK ON KIMO'S POINT, LOVE WORKING WITH KIMO HE CALLED ME YESTERDAY, GOT BACK FROM THE BIG ISLAND.

THE FOUR SPOTS HE WAS GOING TO GO TO SCOUT, WE KNOW EACH ONE.

D.O.T.

BY THE AIRPORT LOT, GOOD TO GO.

ACCESS TO WATER, GOOD TO GO.

GREAT.

WANTS THAT SPOT.

PEOPLE MAY THINK IT'S LIKE WE GOT A DART BOARD, WHAT SHOULD WE PICK?

IS IS A LOT MORE COMPLEX.

AND A LOVE THE FACT THAT KIMO WILL CALL ME, DEBRIEF.

SOMETIMES EVERY DAY.

AND WE'LL KNOW THE EXACT LOT, EXACT TMK.

DON'T CHECK ON ME.

WE'LL DOUBLE CHECK ON IT.

MAUI I KNOW TWO SPOTS HE'S GOING TO.

KAUAI WORKING ON ONE SPOT.

IT'S AMAZING.

PARTNERSHIP.

REALLY IS.

TO MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL.

I APPRECIATE WORKING WITH BOTH CONNIE AND KIMO.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY ONE THING.

BACK TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT, IN EVERY COMMUNITY, THAT IS SUPPORTING IT, WHAT THEY SEE IS COMMUNITY FIRST MODEL.

AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT IS DIFFERENT.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT BEFORE.

AND WHAT'S DIFFERENT IN THE PAST TWO DECADES PROMOTING WAS CALLED HOUSING FIRST MODEL.

UTILIZE SCATTERED SITE HOUSING ACROSS AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.

WORKED TO SOME EXTENT.

NOT WORKED FOR OTHERS.

>> THIS IS DIFFERENT.

AND THEY'RE NOTICING THAT AND THAT WHERE A LOT OF SUPPORT IS COMING FROM.

>>Yunji: EMAIL FROM DAN.

IF YOU WOULD TAKE THIS ONE.

WHY CAN'T WE BUILD MORE KAUHALE FASTER.

WHAT IS THE PACE AND SAID START OF THIS.

IN THIS AREA, 12 BY THIS YEAR.

20 BY NEXT YEAR.

WHAT IS THE GOAL?

DAN'S POINT, WHY CAN'T WE GET THEM ONLINE?

>> EXCELLENT POINT.

KIMO AND I HAVE BEEN ROCKET SPEED.

IS TRUTH BE TOLD, 12 KAUHALE WAS SUPPOSED FOR GOVERNOR'S FIRST TERM.

NOW TURNED BY END OF 2024.

BY NEXT YEAR, GOVERNOR WANT 20 KAUHALE.

WE ARE, I MEAN, AS FAST AS KIMO CAN BUILD THE UNITS, WE'RE OPENING UP.

GOING AS FAST AS WE CAN.

>> LOOK AT KAUHALES WE'VE DONE HERE ON OAHU, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PERMITTED UNDER OUR CURRENT REGULATION WOULD HAVE TAKEN COUPLE YEARS.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO THOSE WITHIN 3 TO 4 MONTH.

PER SITE, INCREDIBLE.

POWER OF THE EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION AND TOOLS WE HAVE IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND WE DO NOT TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IS AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE TO SCALE AND MEET, I MEAN, I WISH WE COULD GO FASTER.

>>Yunji: I AM CURIOUS.

ONCE THESE ARE UP AND RUNNING, ARE THESE PERMANENT SITES?

CAN WE EXPECT THAT THESE WILL STAY?

CONNIE WAS SAYING THREE TO SIX MONTHS AND HOPEFULLY THESE FOLKS TRANSITION ON TO ANOTHER HOUSING SITUATION.

BUT VILLAGE ITSELF, IS THAT GOING TO BE A PERMANENT PART FIXTURE IN THAT COMMUNITY?

>> I HOPE SO.

I THINK WE'RE CONCEPT WITH JOHN, WANTED TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF.

THAT'S FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DECIDE.

I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO BE PERMANENT FOR AS LONG AS IT NEEDS TO BE.

UNITS WE'RE DEVELOPING WITH STEP BUILD AND THAT HAS A LONG LIFE SPAN.

SO THAT IS WE'RE THINKING PERMANENT EVEN AS WE'RE PURSUING THAT.

>> KIMO POINT, THE IWILEI KAUHALE WE'RE GOING TO START TO BUILD, WE'RE HAVE TO MOVE SOME OF THEM BECAUSE THE RAIL COMING IN.

BUT THE OTHER KAUHALE THAT KIMO TALKING ABOUT, WE LIKE FOR THEM TO BE PERMANENT.

WINDWARD, MIDDLE STREET, AND COUPLE OTHERS.

READY TO GO.

SO ABSOLUTELY LIKE THAT.

EVEN WITH THE ONE THAT IS NOT PERMANENT, THEY CAN MOVE THE UNIT TO ANOTHER SITE.

>>Yunji: WHAT I SAW HAPPEN AT QUEEN'S.

INTERESTED ALSO, BUILDING IS ONE THING.

DAN SAYS WHY CAN'T WE BUILD THEM FASTER.

NEED SERVICE PROVIDER.

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH SERVICE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES YOU WERE DESCRIBING, RESIDENTIAL SPECIALIST, RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT FORGET WHAT THE TITLE IS.

BASICALLY MANAGER.

ALONG WITH PERHAPS SOCIAL WORKER OR MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

>> REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

BECAUSE IN THE HOMELESS SERVICES COMMUNITY, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE.

I'LL JUST USE THIS AS A PLUG.

GREETING PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

HARD KIND OF WORK TO DO SOMETIMES.

AND I THINK IT TAKES A CERTAIN KIND OF PERSON REALLY WANTS TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.

AND IT'S BEEN A SITUATION WHERE WE'VE HAD TO KIND OF COMPETE WITH HEALTH CARE AND I THINK NOW, THERE'S JUST A REAL IMPETUS TO HELP DEVELOP THAT WORKFORCE.

CONTRACTS FROM THE STATE AND CITY TO PAY OUR PEOPLE ENOUGH SO WE CAN REALLY ATTRACT PEOPLE AND KEEP THEM IN THE WORKFORCE.

>> GOING TO BE CHALLENGING.

EVEN IF YOU BUILD REALLY FAST, KIMO, HAVE TO HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO HELP REALLY SUPPORT THEM.

>>Yunji: LINDA PEARL CITY HAS A QUESTION, HOPING YOU CAN ANSWER HOW WE GET IN TOUCH WITH SOMEBODY INTERESTED IN LIVING TINY HOME?

CAN WE CALL ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE WHO NEEDS A HOME.

>> CALL YOUR OFFICE.

SOMEONE AT AUNTY BLANCHE'S THIS MORNING.

9:00 A.M. 78‑YEAR‑OLD.

WHO WAS BEING MOVED OUT OF A SHELTER.

NO PLACE TO GO.

MY STAFF HAD PICKED HER UP AT 9:00 A.M. NOW AT AUNTY BLANCHE'S IN WAIMANALO.

GENERALLY PEOPLE CALL OUR OFFICE.

NEED HELP.

>>Yunji: HOW MANY HOMELESS FOLKS DO WE HAVE IN OUR STATE DO YOU THINK THAT COULD TRANSITION INTO A HOUSE LIKE THAT?

I CAN IMAGINE YOU'RE DOING HAVE A LOT MORE TAKERS THAN YOU HAVE BEDS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

GOAL IS TO END CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.

REDUCE IT BY HALF.

THAT'S OVER A LITTLE OVER 4,000.

LIKE TO HOUSE AT LEAST 2,000.

BY THE END OF GOVERNOR'S TERM.

>>Yunji: WOW.

OKAY.

IN THESE SMALL HOMES, FROM LINDA IN PEARL CITY, HOW DO THEY HANDLE IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE PERSON LIVING THERE?

SOMEONE IS ON DRUGS OR CREATING BE PROBLEMS.

WHAT KIND OF RULES FOR THE RESIDENTS.

>> OPERATORS WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS.

INCIDENT AT WINDWARD.

CONNIE ADDRESSED IT, THAT PERSON WAS UNFORTUNATELY KICKED OUT, COULDN'T BE ADDRESSED.

MIDDLE STREET SIMILAR.

ACTING VIOLENTLY.

ABLE TO ADDRESS HIS CONCERNS AND EVERYONE IS COOL.

IT WORK.

ED OUT.

VILLAGE MENTALITY.

WORKS, PEACEMAKER.

USING, NOT VIOLENT.

SLEEP IT OFF.

GETS VIOLENT, RED FLAG AND WE TRY TO RESPECTFULLY GET THAT PERSON TO A DIFFERENT PLACE SO IT WON'T CAUSE, HE OR SHE WON'T CAUSE ANY HARM TO THE REST OF THE PEOPLE.

>> SOMETIMES ENCOUNTER PEOPLE HAVING CHALLENGES BEHAVIORALLY, WE HAVE TO ASSESS WHAT THEY NEED, MAYBE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

THAT'S OFFERED TO THEM AND ENCOURAGED.

WE DO A LOT MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING WITH PEOPLE AND ENCOURAGING THEM.

WE HAVE OTHER RESEWERSES IF THEY WANT TO GET DETOX HELP THEM AND MAKE THAT REFERRAL TO THAT PEOPLE FOR THAT SERVICE.

SOLUTIONS WE DON'T WANT TO EXIT PEOPLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

SOMETIMES AS WAS SAID, JOHN MENTIONED, WE HAVE TO SAY, OKAY, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A BREAK AND YOU CAN GO TO THIS OTHER SHELTER MAYBE AND COME BACK.

OR JUST YOU CAN'T COME BACK FOR A WHILE.

>>Yunji: GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHICH WE LOVE.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE CALLING IN OR EMAILING US.

ALAN ON NORTH SHORE HAS A QUESTION, HOPING YOU CAN TACKLE THIS ONE.

IN THE PAST, WEINBERG VILLAGE SUCCESSFUL ABANDONED.

CAN SOMETHING LIKE THAT BE REUTILIZED.

ARE YOU BUILDING FROM SCRATCH, HOW MUCH IS CONNIE DESCRIBING A HOUSE THAT TRANSFORMED INTO SOMETHING ELSE?

>> SO OUR SYSTEM RIGHT NOW HAS WE'RE LACKING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

I BELIEVE THAT KAUHALE IS SOLUTION TO FIX THAT GAP IN THE SYSTEM.

HAPPY WE'RE ABLE TO ADD INVENTORY.

WEINBERG VILLAGE AND OTHER SITES THAT ONCE STOOD AT THAT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING MORE THAN WILLING TO RENOVATE BUILDINGS AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT TYPE OF KAUHALE MODEL AS AS LONG AS CONNIE SAYING EARLIER, KAUHALE IS REALLY ABOUT BRINGING SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO EACH OTHER AND FINDING CONNECTIONS.

AND I THINK WHATEVER THAT FACILITY, HOWEVER THAT LENDS TO THAT MODEL, WE'RE OPEN.

RIGHT NOW, THERE IS 434 UNITS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY BUILDING.

ABOUT 125 READY TO GO HERE ON OAHU.

WE HAVE NINE SITES ACROSS THE STATE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PLANNING AND GETTING READY TO DEVELOP.

OUR HOPE IS TO MEET GOVERNOR AND JOHN'S GOAL OF 2,000 AND I THINK THAT IS POSSIBLE BUT I THINK IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THIS TINY HOME MODEL.

CAN BE OTHER TYPES OF FACILITY AND STRUCTURES.

I WAS GOING TO SAY, THE LAST, LOST MY POINT.

>>Yunji: WE'VE GOT ENOUGH QUESTIONS.

I'M SURE WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU IF YOU THINK OF IT.

QUESTION, YOU DID SAY THAT THE GOAL IS 3 TO 6 MONTHS.

THIS PERSON ASKS, ONCE A PERSON MOVES INTO A TINY HOME, ARE THEY ALLOWED TO LIVE THERE FOREVER?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE IDEA, WHEN GOVERNOR GREEN WAS TALKING ABOUT KAUHALE, WAS IF THAT IS THE CHOICE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN THAT KIND OF COMMUNAL STYLE LIVING, THEN LET'S GIVE IT TO THEM.

OFFER IT TO THEM.

BUT FOR OURS IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE IT IS A SPECIFIC POPULATION, WE WANT TO AGAIN, TAILOR IT TO WHERE THEY NEED IT AND WHAT THEY NEED.

BUT MY GUESS SOME PEOPLE LIVING IN OUR KAUHALE WILL WANT TO MOVE ON.

WE WANT TO OFFER THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SOMEBODY ELSE ALSO.

>>Yunji: THREE QUESTIONS HERE.

I HOPE YOU CAN TAKE THEM.

THIS ONE IS WHAT CRITERIA DO YOU USE TO SELECT PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE HOMES?

WHO DOES NOT QUALIFY SHOULD ONLY BUILD TINY HOMES LOCAL RESIDENTS.

MOST ARE MADE UP NONHAWAII RESIDENTS.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF HOMELESSNESS?

ARE THERE STEPS IN PLACE TO PREVENT OTHER STATES FROM SENDING THEIR HOMELESS HERE?

OUR TAX MONEY PAYS FOR THIS.

IS THERE A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR FOLKS ELIGIBLE TO LIVE IN THESE SPACES.

>> SO LONG AS THEY VIEW HAWAII AS GOING TO BE PERMANENT RESIDENCY.

THEY'RE OKAY.

WE WORKED AN A BILL.

OTHER STATE IS NOT A MYTH, SEND HOMELESS TO HAWAII.

THAT HAPPENED NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

I WROTE TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL TO STOP THAT PROGRAM.

CALLED SOTA, S OTA PROGRAM IN NEW YORK.

AFTER A MADE A COMPLAINT.

OTHER OFFICIALS CHIMED IN THAT PROGRAM WAS SHUTDOWN.

HAPPENED BEFORE.

WE HAVE THE RETURN TO HOME PROGRAM.

FROM THE MAINLAND, HOMELESS, AND YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO CALIFORNIA, TEXAS OR FLORIDA, CONNIE WILL WORK WITH THAT PERSON, CONNECT WITH THE FAMILY, HAVE THEM PAY FOR HALF THE FLIGHT EXPENSES, HAVE THAT FAMILY, THAT SUPPORT GROUP ACCEPT THAT PERSON.

WE DON'T DO WHAT OTHER STATES DO.

WE DON'T SWEEP OUR HOMELESS OUT.

WE MAKE SURE THERE'S A SUPPORT SYSTEMS WILLING TO ACCEPT THEM.

CRITERIA GOING INTO A KAUHALE.

DEPENDS ON THE OPERATOR.

WINDWARD HIGH STANDARDS.

COMMUNITY WAS NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT KAUHALE.

HAD TO MAKE SURE THE PERSON WAS NOT ON THE SEX OFFENDER LIST.

MAKE SURE THAT PERSON DIDN'T HAVE ANY VIOLENT BEHAVIORAL OR CRIMINAL ACTS, DISPLAYED VIOLENCE.

HIGH BARRIER.

MIDDLE STREET, LOW BARRIER.

PEOPLE MELLOW AT THAT POINT.

DEPENDS ON THE AREA, WHAT COMMUNITY IT'S IN AND THE OPERATOR.

THAT'S HOW WE RODE WITH THAT.

HOPE I WAS ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

>>Yunji: YOU WERE.

BUILDING ON THAT, THIS IS ISSUE THAT COMES UP YOU EVER TIME WE HAVE YOU ON.

TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.

PEOPLE WANT KNOW AND TO VIEWER IS THE SAME.

WHERE DO MOST OF THOSE HOMELESS COME FROM.

SO BUILDING ON WHAT JOHN WAS JUST ANSWERING, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE HAWAII YOUR HOME, THEN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF HAWAII.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YOU DON'T.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN HAWAII ARE LOCAL PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT THERE'S A LARGE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY NOT FROM HERE.

PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS BUT THEY AREN'T.

I THINK THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT I FEEL LIKE, I'M LOCAL.

I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THIS STATE.

AND AS JOHN SAYS.

KIND OF LIKE USING OUR RESOURCES.

BUT THE FACT IS THAT IF SOMEBODY COMES, AND IF WE, WE DO, NEED WORKERS HERE, IF THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK, I'M FOR REALLY SUPPORTING THEM AND HELPING THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

IF THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE JUST COMING AND JUST REALLY WANTING TO JUST RECEIVE HOUSING, WE HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE IT REALLY ISN'T RIGHT, FOR THE PERSON TO JUST COME.

I DIDN'T HAVE A RIGHT TO TELL THEM THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE OR CAN'T TO IT.

BUT WE PRIORITIZE PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM HAWAII.

WE WANT THOSE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO HAVE THE HOUSING THAT IS REALLY THE THING THAT THEY NEED.

I THINK WE REALLY DO TRY TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

BUT WE ALSO KEEP IN MIND WE NEED NEW PEOPLE IT TO COME TOO.

WE'RE LOSING PEOPLE TO THE CONTINENT ALSO EVERY YEAR.

>>Yunji: JUST BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE INTERESTED, THIS BILL THAT YOU WORKED ON THIS SESSION, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS RETURN TO HOME FUNDING THAT YOU GOT.

SEVERAL YEARS NOW, HAVE A PROGRAM RETURNING PEOPLE TO THE CONTINENT.

THIS WAS A FIRST YEAR THE STATE ACTUALLY INVESTED IN PROVIDING CONTRACT TO DO SO.

BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

WHICH IS TO REALLY HELP DETERMINE WHAT SUPPORT SYSTEM THE PERSON HAD SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO RETURN THEM TO HOMELESSNESS.

IDEA IS TO HELP THEM GET BACK, WITH FAMILY, OR WITH ANOTHER SUPPORT SYSTEMS.

AND TO BE ABLE TO GET THE SERVICES AND NOT BE HOMELESS SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>>Yunji: SO FAR, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU HELPED TO GET BACK TO THE CONTINENT?

>> WELL, AS JOHN SAID, ABOUT 700 OR SO.

>> ABOUT 700.

LESS THAN 2% RETURNING TO THE HAWAII.

VERY SUCCESSFUL.

>>Yunji: KIMO THESE ARE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU THAT I'M HOPING YOU CAN TAKE.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY THOUGHT TO VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS, MODELED IN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

CAN WE TEAM UP WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GROUPS LIKE THAT HELPING TO DEVELOP TINY HOMES AND SHANNON FROM MAUI SAYS, HOW TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP THE PROGRAM ON MAUI AND WANT TO KNOW HOW.

GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILLING TO PICK UP A HAMMER AND GET TO WORK, GREAT.

GIVE ME A CALL.

CLARIFY, HOMEMADE HAWAII ON OPPOSITE SPECTRUM OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LIKE HOMEMADE RECEIVES VOLUNTEERS, APPROACHES CONSTRUCTION OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING REDUCING COST OF CONSTRUCTION.

PASSES ON TO THE END USER.

HOMEMADE HAWAII, TARGET POPULATION AND THE USER IS HOMELESSNESS.

HABITAT HOMEOWNERS FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO GET A LEASE AND ACTUALLY HAVE EQUITY WHICH IS VERY OPPOSITE FROM OUR POPULATION.

GREAT ORGANIZATION.

VERY SIMILAR MODEL.

DIFFERENT TARGET POPULATION.

>>Yunji: THE WAY THAT YOURS WORK IS YOU HAVE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES AND PEOPLE FROM THE TRADES ACTUALLY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO HELP WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

>> CORRECTS.

SO HOMEMADE HAWAII DEVELOPED BY THE BUILDER INDUSTRY IN RESPONSE TO HOMELESS CRISIS.

ABOUT A DECADE AGO, HAWAII HAD THE LARGEST HOMELESSNESS RATE IN THE NATION.

AND KAKAAKO WAS OUR LARGEST HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT IN THE COUNTRY.

BUILDERS SAYING WASN'T A VOICE REPRESENTING DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY IN THESE HOMELESS SOLUTIONS.

ALWAYS AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES AND GREAT PEOPLE, GREAT ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THEY JUST KEPT ADVOCATING FOR SUBSIDIZING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH WASN'T ACTUALLY MOVING HOMELESS PEOPLE OFF STREETS.

SO WE FELT THE NEED AS DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY, TO OFFER OTHER SOLUTIONS.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT INTO.

SO WE PARTNER WITH BUILDING INDUSTRY TO ACHIEVE THAT AFFORDABLE CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, THEY ARE COMING IN AT ABOUT 40% SAVINGS IN PRO BONO LABOR, DONATED MATERIAL AND SUPPLIES.

NONPROFIT ABLE TO FUNDRAISE SUCCESSFULLY, SO FAR, COMPLETED 18 PROJECTS AND WE'RE AVERAGING SOMEWHERE AROUND 77, 78% SAVINGS WHEN WE BRING IN PHILANTHROPY COUPLED WITH BUILDING INDUSTRY SUPPORT.

TRULY MAKING THIS AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

>>Yunji: THAT IS GOOD TO HEAR.

MONEY QUESTION HERE.

CAN YOU TAKE THIS ONE?

HOW SUSTAINABLE IS THIS PROGRAM?

DOES THE STATE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PAY FOR THESE FOR YEARS GOING FORWARD?

IF THESE ARE SOMEWHAT PERMANENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

WHO PAYS FOR THIS LONGTERM?

>> RIGHT.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SELF‑SUSTAINABLE.

PUT IN COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS TO START OUR KAUHALE.

MAYBE 15, 100 UNITS.

EVENTUALLY, KEEP IN MIND NOW, ECONOMIC QUESTION.

SIGN ME UP FOR MEDICATED.

HEALTH CARE COVERED.

MAJORITY OF THAT BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SECOND, CONNIE GIVE ME ON SNAP.

FOOD STAMPS.

SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY ROLL INTO OUR STATE ECONOMY BECAUSE OF FOOD STAMPS.

THIRD, SEE IF I'M ELIGIBLE FOR SSI.

GENERAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE AND WORK TO MAKE WHAT I GET EMPLOYED WITHIN SIX TO NINE MONTHS.

IF I GET A JOB AND I'M PAYING RENT, I'LL BE 300 A MONTH.

I'M PUTTING MONEY INTO THE ECONOMY.

I'M NOT JUST TAKING MONEY AWAY.

I'M HELPING STATE MOVE FORWARD.

IN ABOUT 2 OR 3 YEARS, CONNIE OPERATOR COULD ACTUALLY STEP OFF, ME AS HOMELESS PERSON, I'M WORKING SECURITY.

NO OTHER THINGS.

MAY JUST PASS IT ON TO ME.

BAT ON ON TO ME AND I RUN THE HOMELESS SHELTER OR HOMELESS KAUHALE.

WITHOUT GOVERNMENT, WITHOUT OPERATOR, THEY CAN STEP BACK 2 OR 3 YEARS.

>> DO THAT, SELF SUFFICIENT.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING DO.

>>Yunji: ULTIMATE GOAL HAVE THE SERVICE PROVIDER EVENTUALLY SORT OF RETIRE.

>> YES.

WORK THEMSELVES OUT A JOB.

>> CLARIFY.

BUILDING IN TERMS KAUHALE IS NOT A SHELTER.

HOUSING THAT HAS SOME INCOME GENERATED.

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WITH AFFORDABILITY WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DESIGN, COUPLED WITH RENTS TO OPERATE, IT DOES PENCIL.

AND I THINK THERE'S GOING TO NEED TO BE, WE'RE BUILDING A LOT FROM CONNIE DOING AT KAUHALE VILLAGE.

I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST PILOT AND MODEL THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE LONGITUDINALLY.

TAKE A LOT OF THOSE LESSONS LEARNED, TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON SELF‑SUFFICIENT DEVELOPMENT MODEL TO JOHN'S POINT HAS SOME SELF‑SUFFICIENCY TO IT.

>>Yunji: REALLY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.

NOT A SHELTER.

THAT IS A DIFFERENT MODEL.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE WHY YOU THINK MONEY WELL SPENT FROM THE TAXPAYOR'S SIDE.

>> JOHN MENTIONED, WHEN PEOPLE ARE LEARNING TO PAY RENT, AND RENT ITSELF IS SUFFICIENT, TO ACTUALLY DO THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE ANY KIND OF BUILDING, HAVE TO MANAGE IT.

HAVE TO SUSTAIN IT.

>> RENTS HAVE TO BE ENOUGH.

TO MAKE SURE THAT REPAIRS CAN BE MADE.

OTHER THINGS ARE DONE.

PROPERTY MANAGER KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE DONE CERTAIN WAY.

AND THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING RENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

KAUHALE VILLAGE REALLY LEARNED A LOT AS WE TOOK OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT.

AND IT'S PENCILING OUT.

I FEEL LIKE IT IS VERY POSSIBLE.

I THINK ONE THING THAT WAS ALLUDED ISSUE OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING THERE.

WE HAVE A HUI, KAHAUIKI VILLAGE WHERE THEY ARE THE RESIDENT THAT COME TOGETHER.

AND THEY DECIDE ON SOME THINGS LIKE, WELL YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WANTS TO COME AND THEY WANT TO OFFER THIS KIND OF HELP.

VOLUNTEER.

AND THEY GET A CHANCE I DON'T THINK IS INTERESTED.

GO AROUND AND SEE WHETHER PEOPLE WOULD DO IT OR NOT.

I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY WAY TO HELP PEOPLE INVEST, AND IN THEMSELVES AND ALSO TO LEARN HOW TO LEAD OTHER PEOPLE.

BE THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT CAN DO THE WORK.

THAT NORMALLY STATE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR.

>>Yunji: THERE IS BARBARA KAILUA, SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO ASK JOHN ABOUT.

MAHALO NUI LOA TO CONNIE WHAT SHE AND IHS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS.

EVERY COMMUNITY ON THIS ISLAND SHOULD HAVE A KAUHALE.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT RECENT VISIT TO HAWAII ISLAND.

START WITH YOU, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS?

YOU TALKED BRIEFLY LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT ISLAND COMMUNITIES.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

WE DO TEND TO BE OAHU FOCUSED BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A NEED ON EVERY ISLAND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

DON'T WANT TO BE OAHU‑CENTRIC.

>> HELP THE ENTIRE STATE.

TWO SOLID LOCATION.

>> ACTUALLY THREE ON THE BIG ISLAND.

KONA, HILO, AND ANOTHER AREA KIND OF IN BETWEEN.

BUT MOUNTAIN VIEW.

MAUI GOT TWO LOCATIONS WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO.

KAUAI WORKED ON ONE.

LOOKING, WORKING WITH KIMO ON ANOTHER LOCATION.

SO YES.

I MEAN, IN A NUTSHELL, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AND CONTINUE TO DO DUE DILIGENCE TO SEE.

WHEN WE DO SHOW WITH THE COMMUNITY, LET THEM KNOW WHY WE'RE PICKING THESE SITES.

WE ARE CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO SEE,   WE LOVE TO HAVE THEM BE PART OF THE VISION, WHAT WE ENVISION.

>>Yunji: MOUNTAIN VIEW VERY DIFFERENT FROM MIDDLE STREET.

TELL US ABOUT THE STRATEGY THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU'RE BIDDING FOR ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES?

WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING.

>> SURE.

HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO DON'T WANT TO BE OAHUCENTRIC.

AS IT'S BEEN ALLUDED TO CONNECT BY FIRST LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITIES WE ENTER INTO.

WE HAVE GREAT TEAM THAT DOES COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITIES WE LISTEN.

WE HEAR WHO IS HOMELESS, WHO ARE THEIR RESOURCES WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS WHAT ARE THE SERVICE.

AND HOW DO WE ENVISION A KAUHALE THAT COULD WORK.

FOR ME BUILDING, HUMAN SERVICES HAT, BUILDER'S HAT.

WHEN I PUT ON MY BUILDER'S HAT, LOOKING AT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

PLACE LIKE MOUNTAIN VIEW OR OTHERS MORE RURAL.

OFTENTIMES NEIGHBOR ISLAND NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

WEAR ALWAYS LOOKING AT IF WE'RE GOING TO INVEST WASTE TREATMENT PACKAGE, MAY BE MORE COSTLY, MAYBE LARGER SITE AND LARGER KAUHALE.

BECOMES NEGOTIATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

IS THE ITERATIVE PROCESS.

VERY HARD.

IT'S GOOD WORK.

AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE REALLY AIMING FOR IS REALLY TO FINETUNE WHAT IS THAT THE RIGHT PLAN FOR EACH COMMUNITY.

JUST TAKES TAKES A LOT HANDS IN COLLABORATION.

>>Yunji: I DON'T THINK WE CAN FIX HOMELESS PROBLEM IF WE DON'T HOUSING WITHOUT DRUG RULES.

AS SOON AS SOME SEE RULES CHOOSE TO REMAIN ON THE STREET.

POSSIBLE WITH ACCESS, COUNSELING SERVICE.

WHAT KIND OF COUNSELING SERVICE HAVE AVAILABLE, DIFFERENT, YOU TALKED ABOUT ONE THAT IHS IS RUNNING.

FOR FOLKS TRANSITIONING OUT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM.

WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THAT END AND WHAT IS THE COST OF THINGS LIKE THAT?

>>, I THINK LAST YEAR, WE OPENED A HOMELESS TRIAGE CENTER DOING COMMUNITY‑BASED DETOX.

SUPERSUCCESSFUL.

PEOPLE WANT TO GET OFF THE STREET AND THEY WANT TO GET OFF OF THEIR DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, SOMETIMES IT'S REALLY REALLY ROUGH.

YOU NEED THE SUPPORT OF MEDICAL FOLKS TO DO THAT.

I THINK WE'VE DEMONSTRATED THAT IT CAN BE DONE AND THAT WE'VE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL AT IT.

NOT EVEN WHOLE YEAR.

OPENED LAST YEAR IN JUNE AND I THINK WE'VE DETOXED OVER 120 PEOPLE.

AND IT'S ABOUT 80% SUCCESS THAT THEY COMPLETE THEIR DETOX.

WE'RE ALSO COMPLETEING TRANSITION INTO MORE TREATMENT.

ISN'T JUST DETOXING YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE STREET.

REALLY KIND OF GIVING THEM A WHOLE PACKAGE.

IT'S NOT JUST CLINICAL.

IT'S ALSO LOOKING AT ASKING THEM WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE?

REALLY HAVING THEM SAY WHAT IT IS.

THAT REALLY WOULD INSPIRE THEM TO STAY CLEAN AND MOVE ON.

SO I THINK THERE ARE SO SERVICES LIKE THAT.

NOT ENOUGH.

I HAVE TO SAY REALLY NEED A SYSTEM WITH A LOT MORE SERVICES.

LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION DID WANT US FUND ANOTHER ONE.

WEST SIDE MAYBE.

OR MAYBE ANOTHER ISLAND.

BUT IDEA WE NEED MORE SERVICES TO HELP WITH THESE CLINICAL NEEDS THAT ARE RIGHT THERE.

AND IN TERMS OF HARM REDUCTION AND JUST REALLY TAKING PEOPLE, THAT'S WHAT I CONSIDER HARM REDUCTION.

WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE, WE REALLY LISTEN.

WHERE ARE THEY AT.

WHAT CAN THEY DO?

AND WHAT CAN WE ASK THEM TO DO TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD.

TOWARD HEALTH.

BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T, THE PROSPECTS OF THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE IS JUST REALLY NOT GOOD.

AND IF YOU STAY ON THE STREET, CHANCES ARE YOUR LIFE IS SHORTENED BY ABOUT 30 YEARS.

>> 30 YEARS.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THERE'S A CONTINUUM OF HOUSING SOLUTIONS IN KAUHALE IS JUST ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE USER OR MENTALLY ILL HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL, KAUHALE MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT MATCH.

BUT MAYBE SOMEBODY WHO IS GONE THROUGH CONNIE'S DETOX CENTER, WHO HAS BEEN CLEAN AND SOBER DETOXED DOES NOT WANT TO RETURN ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE SAFE, MAYBE THAT IS WHERE KAUHALE BECOMES THAT OPTION AND THAT MOMENT.

SO WE HAVE TO KIND OF REMOVE THE STIGMA OF PEOPLE ON STREETS, KAUHALE SOLUTION.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SWEEP PEOPLE INTO KAUHALE.

>>Yunji: THAT GOES TO THIS QUESTION FROM MIKE IN MAKIKI.

DO YOU THINK MAKING TINY HOMES IS THE WAY OR SHOULD APARTMENT COMPLEXES, SHOULD THERE BE APARTMENT COMPLEXES FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.

NOT EITHER/OR SCENARIO.

>> ALL OF THE ABOVE.

WE NEED MORE INVENTORY.

WITHOUT HOUSING.

WITHOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CONTINUE TO HAVE HOMELESSNESS.

IT'S ALL OF THE ABOVE.

>> CITY IS ACQUIRING A LOT OF PROPERTY FOR THAT PARTICULAR PURPOSE AS WELL.

WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE MAYOR GOING TO DC, LOOKING FOR MORE SUBSIDIES ALSO FOR PEOPLE GOING INTO THOSE KINDS OF HOUSING SITUATIONS.

SO REALLY I THINK BETWEEN THE STATE AND CITY, AT LEAST IN OUR COUNTY, ON THE OTHER COUNTIES TOO, I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT EXPANDING INVENTORY.

WE CAN'T EXPAND IT FAST ENOUGH.

SO KAUHALE IS ANOTHER WAY TO EXPAND QUICKLY.

FOR TRANSITION.

>> FOR JUST MAYBE FOR SOME PEOPLE IT WILL BE TEMPORARY OTHER PEOPLE WILL LOVE IT AND WANT TO STAY FOREVER.

>>Yunji: THIS IS TO THAT POINT.

CALLER FROM MCCULLY WHY ISN'T ANYTHING BE DONE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ON THE SIDEWALK.

SUMNER STREET REALLY BAD.

TALKING ABOUT SOLUTIONS.

HEAR PLEDGES FROM THE GOVERNOR.

OWN COMMUNITY TENT ON SIDEWALK.

MENTAL HEALTH.

PERHAPS VIOLENT DANGEROUS OR DESPERATE NEED OF HELP.

HIGHLY VISIBLE HOMELESS.

>> HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

SWEEP, NOT SEEING LEGISLATURE.

COUNTY STATE NUMEROUS SWEEPS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

TAXPAYOR COST, I DON'T WANT TO SOUND HARSH, THAT WAS STUPID BECAUSE IF YOU SWEEP A HOMELESS PERSON, EVERYONE KNOWS IF IN A COUPLE DAYS, OR WEEK, THAT PERSON IS GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK TO THE SAME SPOT HE OR SHE WAS BEFORE.

TODAY, IF WE HAVE ENOUGH KAUHALE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOFT LANDING.

SO IF I'M SWEPT, LOCATED TO KAUHALE.

OR A SHELTER OR APARTMENT.

IF YOU CAN DO THAT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO START TO GET TENTS OFF THE SIDEWALKS AND KEEP THEM SIDEWALKS CLEAN.

PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

BUT WE'RE WORKING TO THAT.

>>Yunji: WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT SHIFT WILL COME?

WHAT WILL IT TAKE?

HOW LONG WILL IT BE?

>> NEEDS TO BE WITHIN MONTHS.

NOT YEARS.

BECAUSE THAT'S A DEFINITIONS OF INSANITY.

DO THE SAME THING EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS THINKING WITHIN THE NEXT 3 TO 12 MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN HOMELESSNESS ON THE SIDEWALKS.

REMOVAL.

STRUCTURES AND TENTS.

BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING MORE INVENTORY.

MORE KAUHALE.

MORE SHELTERS.

MORE SAFE ZONES.

AREAS WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE A SOFT LANDING.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAYS GOING TO WORK.

SWEEPS ARE NOT GOING TO WORK.

>>Yunji: OR TREATMENT?

DO YOU SHARE THAT SAME OPTIMISM?

THIS CAN BE DONE IN MONTHS.

>> I THINK CHANGE CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY.

WE ALSO NEED SERVICE.

I'M GOING TO EMPHASIZE THAT.

I THINK IF WE'RE JUST HAVING PEOPLE THINKING WE'RE GOING TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE SIDEWALK INTO HOUSING, I THINK THAT A LITTLE BIT OPTIMISTIC WITHOUT THE KIND OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES SOME PEOPLE NEED.

CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, BEEN WORKING WITH CHRONICALLY HOMELESS PEOPLE FOR A LONG TIME.

IF THEY CAN'T CHANGE SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING, NOT EVERYTHING BUT JUST TAKE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, IT WOULD BE VERY HARD FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO HOUSING AND STAY THERE.

I THINK WITH MORE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT IS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE SUPPORTED, IT CAN MAKE A BIG CHANGE, I THINK.

>>Yunji: I WANT SEE IF WE CAN ASK YOU THIS ONE.

TWO QUESTIONS HERE.

JUST INTERESTED IN HOW YOU BUILD FOR THAT.

ARE PETS ALLOWED IN TINY HOMES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE?

FAMILY MOVED INTO THESE TINY HOMES.

TELL US ABOUT SORT OF SOME OF ADAPTATIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE AND DISABLED PEOPLE, GOOD POINT.

ALSO KUPUNA.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE SEE INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON STREET WHO ARE ELDERLY.

>> REGIONAL POINT.

MANY DIFFERENT SUBPOPULATIONS HOMELESSNESS.

IN TERMS KAUHALE WE BUILD, THAT IS PART OF OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE OPERATE AND SERVICE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY.

UNDERSTANDING WHO HOMELESS AND BENEFICIARY OF THESE KAUHALE VILLAGE.

ALL NEGOTIABLE.

COMMUNITY SAYS WE WANT OUR HOMELESS TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE FOR THEIR PETS, HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

IN MY BEST INTEREST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS HOW THEY WANT TO DESIGN COMMUNITY SPACES THAT BUILDS CONNECTION WITH PETS.

I WENT TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, TO CAMP ESPERANZA, ONE OF THE MOST DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SITES, TRANSFORMED TENT CITY INTO A VILLAGE.

A LOT OF PETS AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST CONFLICTS BECAUSE THERE WAS PEOPLE WANTING TO CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF PETS.

RESULTED IN WHAT CONNIE DOES, COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL OR COMMUNITY BUILDING ASPECT, CREATE RULES AND IT'S COMMUNITY LED.

AND THEY ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR COMMUNITY, HOW SHOULD PETS AND STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR BE SET.

AND FROM THERE, SAW CONFLICT GET REDUCED, MORE ORGANIZED AND VIABLE COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK IT'S A PROCESS.

STARTS WITH DEVELOPMENT.

BUT THEN ALSO NOT JUST ON ME AND WHAT WE DO.

IT'S ALSO ON THE OPERATOR AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AT LEAST CARRYING THAT PERSPECTIVE WHEN WE BUILT INTO THE DESIGN OF THAT COMMUNITY MODEL.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HOPING FOR.

>> COULD I ADD.

MIDDLE STREET ALLOW UP TO TWO PETS, TWO DOGS.

PER PERSON.

SO THAT'S KAUHALE THAT ACTUALLY ALLOWS PETS.

TO ANSWER THE OTHER QUESTION, ABOUT BUILDING KAUHALE FOR KUPUNA, DISABLED, WORKING WITH PASTOR KIM, CHURCH IN KALIHI.

11 FOR KUPUNA AND ANOTHER FIVE FOR THOSE MEDICAL RESPITE.

COMING OUT OF DISCHARGE OR ACUTE CARE BED SPACE.

WE ARE WORKING FOR THAT EXACT POPULATION, KUPUNA AND PEOPLE THAT ARE MEDICALLY FRAIL.

>>Yunji: WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

IDEA THAT WE DO HAVE THIS AGING POPULATION THAT ARE HIGH RISK AND THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK ABOUT YOU'RE DEALING WITH KUPUNA HAVE TO BE PLANNING AHEAD.

SOME FOLKS GOING TO AGE.

MANY PEOPLE NOW NOT HOMELESS, THEY'RE GOING INTO ASSISTED LIVING.

ALWAYS ADVOCATED FOR MORE OF A PUBLIC ASSISTED LIVING.

PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD SOME OF THESE OTHER COMMUNITIES.

STATE WOULD FUND THESE TYPE OF PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN EITHER AGE IN PLACE, WITH PEOPLE COMING IN SUPPORT, OR AT LEAST HAVE THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICE THAT IS CAN HELP THEM MAKE THE TRANSITION CAN NO LONGER LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.

WILL HAPPEN FOR SOME PEOPLE.

>>Yunji: CALLER'S QUESTION, DO WE SEE FAMILIES MOVING INTO THESE SPACES.

>> I THINK MOST OF THE KAUHALE ARE NOT OF AT THAT TYPE.

OF COURSE WE HAVE KAHAUIKI VILLAGE.

>>Yunji: ALL FAMILIES.

>> RIGHT.

REALLY NOT THE SAME.

SMALL BUT THEY'RE NOT TINY LIKE HOMES.

ITERATING IT.

WE STARTED STRONG WITH THESE HUNDRED SQUARE FEET UNITS.

ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE NEXT ITERATION FOR COUPLES, FAMILIES AND PERHAPS A PET OWNER CAN BE, YOU KNOW, PET SITUATION CAN BE PART OF THAT AS WELL.

WE WANT TO BE COST EFFICIENT AND THERE IS A MODEL THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE THAT MAKES THAT EFFECTIVE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY FIGURE THIS OUT.

HOW DO WE NOT STICK BUILD AND CREATE NEW ALL THE TIME, WE WANT TO HAVE A PORTFOLIO FOR THE STATE THAT IS PRETTY STANDARDIZED, SERVES SUBPOPULATIONS WORKING ON THAT AS WE GO INTO EACH COMMUNITY.

>>Yunji: WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, THINK ABOUT OTHER STATES AND OTHER, HOW WE KNOW HOMELESSNESS IS AN ISSUE ACROSS OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

ARE THERE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS WELL OR IS HAWAII SORT ON THE CUTTING EDGE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AUSTIN, TEXAS.

COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE EXCELLENT PROGRAM.

OUR STATE IS GOING TO BE LEAD IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS WITH KAUHALE, WITH OUR VILLAGE CONCEPT.

AUSTIN, TEXAS DOES IT WELL.

UTAH DOES IT QUITE WELL.

IN EUROPE, GOT FINLAND AND SOME OF THE OTHER EUROPEAN NATIONS DOING WELL.

HOUSING FIRST PROGRAM.

EVENTUALLY HAWAII IS GOING TO BE A LEADER IN THIS EFFORT.

>> MAYBE NARROW IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THERE HAS BEEN OTHER VILLAGES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED ACROSS THE NATION.

BUT NO GOVERNMENT HAS FOCUSED ON THIS TYPE OF STRATEGY AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS GOVERNMENT PARTICULARLY UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT.

THAT IS, I THINK, SOMETHING THAT KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGED THIS GOVERNOR HAS NEEDED POLICY TO HAVE A DEVELOPMENT ARM SPECIFICALLY FOR HOMELESS.

THAT IS NOT, THAT IS NOT FEDERAL POLICY OR STATE POLICY ACROSS THE NATION.

>> WANTED TO ADD, GOVERNOR GREEN'S VISION, WANTED TO DO SOMETHING NO OTHER STATE IN THE NATION HAS DONE.

REDUCE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS BY HALF.

CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, FLORIDA, NO WAY.

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

IF WE CAN MAKE HIS MARK WITHIN THE NEXT 3 YEARS, WE'LL HAVE DONE SOMETHING HISTORIC.

NO OTHER STATE HAS DONE THIS.

>>Yunji: TELL US THE NUMBERS.

WHAT ARE WE AT RIGHT NOW AND WHAT IS THE GOAL TO GET THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> LAST POINT IN TIME COUNT, 6,223.

CONICALLY HOMELESS OVER 4,000.

ONES THAT DON'T HAVE SHELTER AT ALL.

CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.

GOVERNOR WANTS TO CUT THAT IN HALF.

AT LEAST REDUCE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS BY 2,000.

NO OTHER STATE IN NATION HAS EVER DONE THIS.

IT'S A GREAT GOAL.

AND WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO ACHIEVE THAT.

>>Yunji: JUST ABOUT 3 MINUTES LEFT.

GET TO DAN'S QUESTION.

PERHAPS JOHN YOU MIGHT BE THE PERSON OR MAYBE ANY OF YOU.

START WITH YOU.

HE SAYS, GREAT HOPE FOR A FORMATIVE DISCUSSION, GIVE US IN THE ORDER OF MAGNITUDE.

NUMBER OF UNITS IN THE COMMUNITY, CONSTRUCTION COSTS, OPERATION COSTS.

NUMBER OF UNITS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE HOPING FOR 12 BY END OF THIS YEAR?

>> 12 BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

20 BY NEXT YEAR.

>>Yunji: CONSTRUCTION COSTS?

>> FOR THE TINY HOME UNIT, ALONE, ABOUT 16,000 PER UNIT.

VALUE ENGINEERED IT DOWN AFFORDABLY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S AVERAGING SOMEWHERE IN THE 30,000.

ALL IN.

WHICH INCLUDES THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT.

COMMUNITY SPACES OFFICE SPACES AND UNITS ITSELF.

>>Yunji: VARIES BY KAUHALE.

BECAUSE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS ARE SO DIFFERENT.

ON SORT OF BROAD SCALE, TO DAN'S QUESTION, OPERATION COSTS.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO ONE RUN OF THESE.

>> DEPENDS ON HOW MANY BEDS.

HOW MANY UNITS.

AND THEN ALSO, WHAT KIND OF SERVICES ARE NEEDED BECAUSE THE ONE THAT WE HAVE BEEN JUST STARTED AT PAEPAE HOU.

COST LESS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT DEGREE OF LIKE 24‑7 SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE SUPERVISION.

I THINK THAT JUST HAVE TO KNOW THAT IT REALLY PAYS FOR ITSELF.

THINK ABOUT GETTING CHRONICALLY HOMELESS PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND INTO A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE REALLY RECOVERING, YOU'RE GOING TO REDUCE INTO THE ONLY MEDICAL COST, HOSPITALIZATION, REDUCE INCARCERATION.

REDUCE LAW ENFORCEMENT COST.

JUDICIARY COST.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF COSTS THAT COMES WITH HOMELESSNESS.

AND SO I THINK IF WE CAN DO THIS, WE'LL BENEFIT IN THE SAVINGS ALL OF THOSE SYSTEMS >>Yunji: WHEN CAN WE SEE THE NEXT ONE?

WHERE ARE YOU OPEN NEXT?

>> NEXT MONTH IS PASTOR KIM.

16 UNITS.

11 FOR KUPUNA AND FIVE FOR MEDICALLY FRAIL.

>>Yunji: PEOPLE WANT TO GET INVOLVED, PICK UP THAT HAMMER, HOW DO THEY GET IN TOUCH?

>> HOMEMADE HAWAII.ORG AND GIVE US A CALL.

LET US KNOW.

>>Yunji: ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

CURIOUS TO KNOW, BEEN ON THIS FROM THE BEGINNING.

WHAT IS IT LIKE WHEN YOU SEE FOLKS TO GET TO GO INTO THE HOMES YOU BUILT?

>> MY STAFF AND I, IT'S EXCITING.

THERE'S A LOT OF BUZZ VOLUNTEERS GETS PUT INTO THAT HARD WORK.

SOMEBODY ACCEPTS THEIR KEYS FEELING GRATEFUL, THEY HAVE THIS NEW START TO LIFE, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENTS THAT YOU COULD EVER ASK FOR.

I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK FOR CONNIE AND NOW WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND I THINK IT'S JUST CONTINUES TO INSPIRE ME EVERY TIME WE DO THIS.

>>Yunji: GREAT.

HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS ‑ JOHN MIZUNO THE STATE COORDINATOR ON HOMELESSNESS AND KIMO CARVALHO OF HOME AID HAWAII.

AND FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN SERVICES, CONNIE MITCHELL.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, IT’S A WRAP FOR THIS YEAR’S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE’LL HEAR FROM STATE LAWMAKERS ON THE LAST‑MINUTE WHEELING AND DEALING AND FIND OUT WHAT BILLS DIED AND PASSED THIS YEAR AND HOW IT WILL BENEFIT HAWAII RESIDENTS.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS UNTIL NEXT TIME, ALOHA.