IN RECENT YEARS, STATE AND INDIVIDUAL   COUNTIES HAVE SPENT MILLIONS DEVELOPING PROGRAMS AND SOLUTIONS TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE ONGOING HOMELESSNESS CRISIS HERE IN HAWAII.

WITH THE COST OF LIVING CONTINUING TO RISE, IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ENOUGH TO REDUCE AND SOLVE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS?

JOIN OUR CONVERSATION AS WE DISCUSS WHAT IS BEING DONE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO RESOLVE THIS LONGSTANDING ISSUE.

NEXT ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I’M YUNJI DE NIES.

IN GOVERNOR GREEN’S INAUGURAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IN JANUARY, HE ISSUED AN EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION CONCERNING HOMELESSNESS.

HAWAII’S HOMELESS CRISIS IS UNFORTUNATELY NOTHING NEW, BUT THERE ARE A VARIETY OF INNOVATIONS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM TAKING PLACE AT THE STATE AND COUNTY LEVELS.

WE WANT TO EXPLORE THOSE SOLUTIONS TONIGHT AND TALK ABOUT WHAT’S WORKING, AND WHAT STILL NEEDS WORK.

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 AND YOUTUBE PAGES.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

JAMES KOSHIBA WAS APPOINTED THE GO‑VERNOR’S COORDINATOR ON HOMELESSNESS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

BEFORE HIS APPOINTMENT, HE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HAUOLI MAU LOA FOUNDATION, THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL VENTURES AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF KANU HAWAII.

ANTON KRUCKY IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU.

PREVIOUSLY, HE WAS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF IBM PACIFIC AND THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF TISSUE GENESIS INC. CONNIE MITCHELL HAS LED THE INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN SERVICES, IHS, SINCE 2006.

PRIOR TO IHS, SHE ESTABLISHED A NURSE‑RUN RURAL CLINIC ON HAWAII ISLAND AND WAS THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING AT THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL.

SHE ALSO SERVES ON THE BOARDS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

ADAM ROVERSI HAS SERVED AS THE KAUAI COUNTY HOUSING DIRECTOR SINCE 2019.

HE STUDIED NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AT UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA.

PRIOR TO HIS APPOINTMENT AS HOUSING DIRECTOR, HE SERVED AS A DEPUTY ATTORNEY FOR KAUAI COUNTY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU JAMES.

YOU REFERENCE AT THE TOP.

EVERY ELECTION CYCLE.

THIS STRATEGY IS GOING TO BE NEW.

NEW AND DIFFERENT.

END UP SIMILAR RESULT YEAR OVER YEAR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DIFFERENT ABOUT YOUR OFFICE'S STRATEGY.

>> COUPLE THOUGHTS.

IMPORTANT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT LARGER CONTEXT WHICH IS ON THIS ISSUE FACING HEAD WIND PERSISTENT HEAD WIND OF RISING HOUSING COSTS AND WAGES THAT DON'T KEEP UP WITH THAT.

>> WE HAVE THAT GAP.

GAP CONTINUES TO GROW.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE PRESSURE ON THE BOTTOM OF OUR SAFETY NETS AND MARKETPLACE AND PRECIOUS THAT ACTUALLY WILL LEAD TO A RISE IN HOMELESSNESS.

BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I THINK IN SHORT, THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING DIFFERENTLY.

ONE IS OUR OBSERVATION, MY OBSERVATION, IS THAT ONE OF THE PIECES THAT HAS BEEN A BOTTLENECK SOLVING THIS PROBLEM WE DON'T HAVE THAT DEEPLY AFFORDABLE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO BE HOUSED AND HEALED AT THE END OF THAT CONTINUUM OF CARE TO GET PEOPLE FROM THE STREET TO HOME.

SO WE'RE SQUARELY FOCUSED ON CREATING MORE OF THAT SPACE, KAUHALE IS ONE MECHANISM TO DO IT.

NOT THE ONLY MECHANISM.

WE REALLY WANT TO EXPAND THAT INVENTORY OF SPACE THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE INCOME SCALE TO GET FOLKS FROM STREET TO HOME.

SECOND PIECE IS, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW, OUR EXISTING SYSTEM THAT CONTINUUM OF CARE FROM OUTREACH TO TEMPORARY SHELTER TO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT, THAT WHOLE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE FORTIFIED SIGNIFICANTLY.

OTHER FOLKS AROUND THE TABLE CAN TELL YOU STAFFING SHORTAGES ON THE FRONT LINE OF OUTREACH WORKERS AND SHELTER WORKERS.

THAT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE RESOURCED DIFFERENTLY.

SO THAT ONCE WE DO HAVE THAT SPACE, WE CAN GET PEOPLE ALONG THAT PATHWAY AND BRING THEM HOME.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO GET INTO THAT DEEPLY AFFORDABLE MODEL IN A LITTLE BIT.

FIRST, LET'S TALK GENERALLY ABOUT SOME NUMBERS.

AND WE HAVE SOME GRAPHICS TO SHARE BUT TONIGHT.

FROM THE POINT IN TIME COUNT THAT WAS TAKEN IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, FIRST ONE LOOKS AT HOMELESS FOLKS ON OAHU WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

JUST OVER 4,000.

YEAR BEFORE, JUST A LITTLE BIT UNDER.

FOCUSED IN ON KEIKI IN THAT COUNT AS WELL.

IF YOU LOOK AT HOMELESS KEIKI ON OAHU, YOU'RE LOOKS 559, AGAIN, SLIGHT UPTICK FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

OF COURSE, THIS NOT A PROBLEM THAT IS IT UNIQUE TO OAHU.

IT ALSO AFFECTS NEIGHBOR ISLANDS.

THOSE NUMBERS TO SHARE WITH YOU AS WELL.

LOOK AT THE HOMELESS NUMBERS ON THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS, THIS IS COLLECTIVELY EXCLUDING ISLAND OF OAHU, WE'RE LOOKING AT 2,195, INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS YEAR.

NUMBER OF KEIKI, 341 IN 2023.

UPTICK FROM 2022.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> I SEE DESPITE A LOT OF EFFORT, PROVIDING SERVICES TRYING TO OUTREACH PEOPLE, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROBLEM.

AS JAMES WAS SAYING, IT'S LONGSTANDING PROBLEM.

THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM HAS BEEN DECADES IN THE MAKING.

IT IS NOT JUST SOMETHING RECENT.

AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO SEE IT IN CONTEXT ALSO OF NATIONAL CRISIS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING.

I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE WE DID GO UP A LITTLE BIT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES ON THE WEST COAST AND ELSEWHERE, METROPOLITAN AREAS, HOMELESSNESS IS EXPLODED AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT IS INFATHOMMABLE.

I FEEL LIKE OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE, NEIGHBOR ISLAND WE WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO LEVERAGE EACH OTHER'S STRENGTHS.

BUT IT'S REALLY STILL TOUGH BECAUSE RESOURCES ARE NOT ALWAYS THERE.

AND WE DON'T HAVE THE HOUSING INVENTORY THAT WE NEED.

>>Yunji: KAUAI IN PARTICULAR HAS A HOUSING SHORTAGE.

SO I WANT TO GO TO YOU NOW ADAM.

WE SAW THOSE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS NUMBERS.

THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM AS WE MENTIONED.

UNIQUE TO OAHU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE ISSUE ON THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS SPECIFICALLY ON KAUAI AS IT COMPARES TO WHAT FOLKS ARE EXPERIENCING HERE ON OAHU?

>> WELL, WE CLEARLY HAVE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES.

WE HAVE THE EXACT SORT OF CRISIS JAMES IS TALKING ABOUT LACK OF AFFORDABILITY FRUSTRATING DOING GET WORK I THINK WITH THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING LOW COST SUPPORTIVE HOUSING MODELS JAMES IS TALKING ABOUT SERVING ALMOST 100 FAMILIES IN THE LAST YEAR GETTING 60 FAMILIES INTO HOUSING.

NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP.

SYSTEMICALLY MORE PEOPLE FALL INTO HOMELESSNESS DESPITE EFFORTS TO CREATE LOW ENTRY LOW COST HOUSING SITUATION FOR THEM.

WE NEED TO DO MORE AND DO IT MORE QUICKLY.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO LOOK AT ONE MORE GRAPHIC THAT WE HAVE TONIGHT.

TO KIND OF GIVE A CONTEXT TO WHAT PEOPLE MAY BE FACING WHO ARE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE.

WE LOOKED AT SOME DEMOGRAPHIC DATA SHARED IN THE POINT OF IN TIME COUNT.

NUMBERS COME FROM OAHU.

SURVEY UNSHELTERED FOLKS IN THAT POINT IN TIME COUNT REPORT THAT CAME OUT.

62% REPORTING ONE OR MORE DISABLINGEN CONDITION.

THESE ARE SELF‑REPORT.

CLOSE TO 40% REPORTING MENTAL ILLNESS.

36% OF THOSE FOLKS CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.

22%, 60 YEARS OR OLDER.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT KUPUNA TONIGHT IN THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE.

ANTON KRUCKY I WANT TO BRING YOU IN THE SITUATION.

CITY TRYING NEW STRATEGY THROUGH CORE PROGRAM TO TRY TO HELP SOME OF THOSE FOLKS.

LOOK AT THOSE OTHER ISSUES THAT THESE FOLKS ARE FACING, ONE MORE DISABLED CONDITIONS WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THOSE NUMBERS?

>> FIRST OFF, NOVEMBER OF '21, MOVED MY DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.

TOOLS TO WORK ON HOMELESSNESS.

FIVE DIVISIONS IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

SO THEY ALL TOUCH HOMELESSNESS.

I HAVE WORKHAWAII WHICH DOES JOB TRAINING AND GETS PEOPLE READY TO HOUSE.

RENT TO WORK PROGRAMS CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE DIVISION, PUBLIC HOUSING.

VOUCHER PROGRAMS HOME REHUMPBACKS.

COMMUNITY‑BASED DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, INVEST IN PROPERTIES THAT THEN WE CAN CONTRACT WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DO SERVICES.

WE ALSO HAVE 72 SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING AROUND THE ISLAND.

72 OF THOSE WERE DIFFERENT SERVICE PROVIDER WORKING WITH GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

I ALSO HAVE TO DO GRANTS IN AID WHICH ARE SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THEM TO PROVIDE THEIR SERVICE.

ELDERLY AFFAIRS IN HAWAII, NOT ONLY HOMELESS POPULATION, FASTEST GROWING ELDER POPULATION DIVISION.

OTHER EFFECT THAN THE POPULATION WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IN HAWAII.

A LOT OF DYNAMICS THAT ARE OPERATING THERE.

THE KEY STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN CREATIVELY.

YOU MENTIONED CORE.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.

JIM IRELAND RUNS THAT PROGRAM.

EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO CREATIVELY TO GET SOMEONE TO ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM.

THEN WE ANALYZE ALL THE RESOURCES WE HAVE BECAUSE WE'RE MORE THAN EXECUTION ARM FOR THE ISLAND.

ALL THE DIFFERENT SERVICES AND RESOURCES WE CAN PROVIDE IT TO SERVICES DECISIONS.

EVERYTHING I'M DOING KIND OF WORKS WITHIN THAT STRATEGY.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT CORE IN PAY MOMENT.

LET'S GO BACK TO KAU HALE.

RARE LOT OF FOLKS ARE AWARE OF THIS CONCEPT SAYING THIS MORE AND MORE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

NOT JUST ON OAHU, ALSO ON THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS.

SPECIFICALLY, ACROSS THE STREET FROM QUEEN'S MEDICAL CENTER, WE'VE NOW SEEN THIS MEDICAL RESPITE CENTER.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THAT IS GOING.

>> IT'S BEEN OPEN I BELIEVE ABOUT A MONTH NOW.

WHO IS UTILIZING THOSE SERVICES?

HOW LONG ARE THEY STAYING?

LAST I HEARD THERE WAS A WAIT LIST.

>> I WANT TO CORRECT ONE MISPERCEPTION ABOUT KAU HALE.

ENVISION ENVISION, TINY HOMES.

KITCHEN.

CALL IT KAU HALE BECAUSE IT'S VILLAGE STYLE HOUSING.

WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT, WANT TO CREATE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE TAKING COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR SPACE.

TAKING CARE OF THE PLACE AND EACH OTHER.

LOVE TO EXPAND THAT COST EFFECTIVED MODELS CREATING THAT KIND OF SPACE.

YOU COULD HAVE KAU HALE REPURPOSED APARTMENT BUILDING OFFICE SPACE, BUILDING OF COMMUNITY SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, AND THE COST‑EFFECTIVENESS WE'RE AIMING FOR.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT MEDICAL RESPITE KAU HALE, UP FOR ABOUT A MONTH FULL.

WAITING LIST FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO.

TAKE REFERRALS FROM THREE URBAN HOSPITAL SYSTEMS.

>> KUAKINI HAWAII PACIFIC HEALTH AND QUEEN'S.

DESIGNED TO ADDRESS VERY VISIBLE PROBLEM WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH BEING DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL, STRAIGHT TO THE SIDEWALK.

AND LANGUISHING THERE.

FOLKS REFERRED FROM THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS RUN THE GAMUT.

FOLKS THAT ARE RECOVERING FROM A STROKE.

>> ONE RESIDENT STARTED CHEMOTHERAPY.

RESIDENTS THAT HAVE NOT ONLY PHYSICAL BUT SOME BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

I GUESS THE THING THAT BEEN A PLEASANT SURPRISE TO ME TRIED TO SET THE TONE.

EVEN THOUGH TEMPORARY SPACE AND TEMPORARY VILLAGE, THAT WE DO WANT TO FOSTER THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND OF RESPONSIBILITY AND IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO SEE PEOPLE, RESIDENTS IN THERE, REALLY TAKE THAT TO HEART.

AND FORM RELATIONSHIPS, SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

SHARING EARLIER AS WE WERE GETTING READY ONE EXAMPLE, ONE OF RESIDENTS STARTED CHEMOTHERAPY ABOUT WEEK AND A HALF AGO.

RESIDENT MET IN THE KAU HALE NOW TAKES HER TO HER CHEMOTHERAPY APPOINTMENTS.

ALMOST DAILY.

AND JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER AND SUPPORTING EACH OTHER HEALING AND GROWTH.

AND THAT I THINK IS MISSING ELEMENT IN A LOT OF OUR EXISTING SYSTEMS.

HAVING PEOPLE SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN THAT WAY CAN TAKE US A LONG WAY TOWARDS KIND OF HEALING GROWTH WE WANT TO SEE.

>>Yunji: YOU MENTIONED THAT IT IS FULL NOW AND THERE IS MORE NEED.

CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE MORE SIMILAR KAU HALE IN THE FUTURE AND YOU GOT THIS ONE UP AND RUNNING VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

ARE YOU WORKING, WHAT KIND OF TIME FRAME ARE YOU WORKING UNDER?

>> I'M NOT SURE ABOUT.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IN CONJUNCTION WITH OPENING THIS SPACE UP IS TRYING TO GET PERMANENT BED SPACES FOR MEDICAL RESPITE OPENED UP IN THE COMMUNITY.

WORKING WITH FOLKS LIKE CORE.

AND OTHER OPERATORS TO FIND SPACE AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE THE RESOURCES TO STAFF UP.

WHY THIS MEDICAL RESPITE IS TEMPORARY.

ONCE THOSE BED SPACES ARE OPEN, TAKE THE TINY HOME UNITS USE THEM AS PERMANENT SITE.

KEY FOR VISION FOR KAU HALE WANT THESE SPACES TO BE LONGTERM SPACES FOR PEOPLE.

THAT'S THE MISSING PIECE.

WE HAVE SOME TEMPORARY SPACES WE HAVE TRANSITIONAL SPACE.

WHERE ARE THEY TRANSITIONING TO AFTER?

LOOKING TO KAU HALE BEING LONGTERM AFFORDABLE SPACE FOR PEOPLE?

HOW CAN THIS USED ON KAUAI?

YOU'RE SPEAKING NOT JUST FOR KAUAI, BRING IN THE NEIGHBOR ISLAND SPERSE PERSPECTIVE.

DIFFERENT ON MAUI AND HAWAII.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT MODEL NOT JUST MEDICAL, DO YOU HOPE HAVE MORE OF THAT IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> WE'VE BEEN DOING A VERSION WHAT JAMES HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

UNDER FORMER GOVERNOR ORIGINAL EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION, WE BUILT OUR FIRST SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT OF 28 UNITS.

IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE MODEL JAMES IS TALKING ABOUT.

THEY ARE VERY SMALL.

TINY HOMES.

EACH HAVE OWN BATH AND KITCHEN.

DRAMATIC SUCCESS ON KAUAI.

WE'VE HAD QUICK NUMBERS, 63 DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS ALMOST 170 INDIVIDUALS IN TWO YEARS MOVE IN AND MOVE THAN HALF OF THEM HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MOVED OUT TO PERMANENT HOUSING.

EVEN THREE FAMILIES OR THREE RESIDENTS HAVE MOVED INTO THAT FACILITY.

REVERTED TO HOMELESSNESS.

AND EVERYONE ELSE HAS SUCCESSFULLY STABILIZE THEIR LIVES AN MOVED ON TO OTHER PERMANENT HOUSING.

50% OF THE PEOPLE HAVE MOVED ON, HALF ARE STILL THERE.

AND THE KEY TO ITS SUCCESS IS THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT PROVIDED TO THE RESIDENTS ON SITE.

SO CONDITION OF RESIDENCY IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS EVERYONE CAN GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND THE WAY JAMES IS TALKING ABOUT, BUT THE KEY TO ITS SUCCESS IS THAT NONPROFIT PARTNER WOMEN IN NEED, PROVIDES CUSTOMIZED CARE PLAN FOR ANY FAMILY INDIVIDUAL THAT MOVES IN.

IT'S NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL, COOKIE CUTTER SERVICE.

DESIGN TO FIT THEIR NEEDS WHETHER IT'S REBUILDING CREDIT, OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING, OR HELPING THEM GET COMPLETE THEIR EDUCATION, SO THEY CAN FIND BETTER EMPLOYMENT, IT'S BEEN GREAT.

WE'RE BUILDING OUR SECOND ONE.

RIGHT NOW.

32 UNITS ON KAUAI.

AND WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES IN EVERY DISTRICT OF OUR ISLAND AND TO BE BLUNT, THEY'RE NOT THAT HARD TO BUILD.

THEY ARE HARDER TO OPERATE.

AND THEY ARE HARDER TO CONTINUALLY FUND BECAUSE THEY IT'S EXPENSIVE TO PROVIDE THOSE SOCIAL SERVICES.

>> AND WHICH LOOK TO THE STATE TO CONTINUE GIVING US SUPPORT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE'RE A SMALL ISLAND.

WITH LIMITED RESOURCES.

>>Yunji: I'M ALSO INTERESTED ON WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY YOU RESPONSE.

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT JAMES, WHEN YOU CAME INTO YOUR POSITION, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE KAU HALE AND GOVERNOR SAYING HE WANTS TO BUILD I BELIEVE 2 DOZEN, A DOZEN, I THOUGHT IT WAS 2 DOZEN.

OKAY.

A DOZEN.

SAYING THEY WANTED QUITE A FEW OF THESE.

ALREADY WAS RESISTANCE IMMEDIATELY TO SAYING WELL, WE'RE NOT THE RIGHT DISTRICT.

NOT THE RIGHT PLACE.

IF YOU WANT TO BUILD AS MANY AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, DO YOU EXPECT THERE TO BE ANY NIMBYISM WHEN YOU TRY TO LAY THESE OUT?

>> DEFINITELY.

I THINK WE CAN OVERCOME THAT.

HAVE SPECIFIC INSTANCES.

RIGHT NOW, SEEKING A THIRD SITE ON THE EAST SIDE OF KAUAI.

AND WHEN WE PUT FEELERS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR INTENTIONS CLEAR AND IMMEDIATE BLOW‑BACK WE DO NOT WANT THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

INVITED LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO EXISTING SUPPORT YOU'VE HOUSING PROJECT TO MEET THE PEOPLE RUNNING IT TO SEE WHAT LOOKS LIKE, TALK SOME.

FAMILIES THERE.

AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM LEFT THAT DAY SAYING WE'RE COMFORTABLE HAVING THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ONCE THEY REALIZED WHAT IT ACTUALLY WAS, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, IT'S WELL PLANTED, WELL MAINTAINED, CHILDREN RIDING THEIR TRICYCLES AND THE GARBAGE EVERYWHERE, NOT TENTS, NOT CRIME.

ONCE THEY SAW WHAT THE MODEL CAN BE, THEY ENCOURAGED US ACTUALLY TO BRING THAT TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING NOT AUDIENCE ON THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE OF YOU ALREADY WRITING IN AND CALLING IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

IF YOU COULD TAKE THESE TWO.

ONE FROM KAIMUKI.

ONE FROM KAUAI.

AND SIMILAR HERE.

QUESTIONS HERE.

WITH AIRLINES OFFERING LOW COST FLIGHTS FROM THE MAINLAND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH HOMELESSNESS COMING FROM MAINLAND?

HOW MANY OF OUR HOMELESS FROM THE MAINLAND?

PERCEPTION OTHER CITIES SEND THEM HERE ON ONE‑WAY TICKETS.

OR THAT FOLKS ARE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER ENOUGH MONEY AND SOME OF THOSE FARES ARE RELATIVELY LOW.

THAT THEY CAN COME HERE AND THINK LIFE WILL BE EASIER ON THE BEACH.

>> CLEARLY THERE IS A REAL DRAW FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO HAWAII.

I THINK WE'RE IN THE URBAN CORE.

SEE PROBABLY HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF OUR NEW ADMISSIONS INTO OUR SHELTERS AS BEING FROM OUT OF TOWN.

BUT WE KNOW THAT AS A WHOLE, THEY MAKE UP VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS IN HAWAII.

I THINK PEOPLE ALSO NEED TO KNOW THERE ARE PROGRAMS MUCH LIKE WHAT WE DO SENDING PEOPLE BACK HOME WHEN THEY REALIZE, OH, MY GOD, I CAME HERE AND THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED I DON'T REALLY WANT TO BE HERE.

CONNECT THEM WITH FAMILY OR SUPPORTS ON THE MAINLAND TO GET THEM BACK.

MOST OF THEM COME USING CHECK OF THEIR OWN.

NOT PEOPLE SENDING THEM USUALLY.

ARE TIMES WHEN FAMILY SENDS THEM.

OR SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER DECIDES THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT IS BETTER FOR THEM.

THAT IS MORE RARITY THAN TYPICAL.

MOST PEOPLE DECIDE I WANT TO GO TO HAWAII TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

DRAWN BY THE AURA OF SOMETHING ADVERTISED TO MANY PEOPLE ANYWAY.

SO I THINK WE KNOW THAT WITH THE OPENING UP AFTER THE COVID, PANDEMIC, WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING COME BACK.

DURING THE PERIOD NOBODY WAS FLYING IN.

WE DIDN'T SEE THAT IT'S COME BACK.

>>Yunji: DO YOU HAVE ANY NUMBERS ON THAT?

ARE THERE NUMBERS ON THAT IN SEEMS TOUGH TO TRACK.

>> I THINK JAMES COULD PROBABLY TELL YOU PERCENTAGE OF THE WHOLE.

OUR ADMISSIONS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR WAS ABOUT 30% OF THE NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO OUR SHELTERS.

IT'S NOT EVERYBODY.

BUT JUST NEW PEOPLE THAT WERE COME INTO OUR SHELTERS.

THIRD OF THEM WERE FROM THE MAINLAND OR ELSEWHERE.

>>Yunji: DO YOU WANT TO ADD IN.

>> OVERALL, ACCORDING TO THE POINT IN TIME COUNT DATA, IT'S AROUND 10%.

OUR NEWCOMERS TO HAWAII.

VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS, ESPECIALLY UNSHELTERED POPULATION, ARE LOCAL FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN IN HAWAII TEN, 15 YEARS, OR LONGER, ON OAHU HALF OF ALL UNSHELTERED PEOPLE ARE NATIVE HAWAIIAN.

SO THEY REALLY ARE OUR PEOPLE.

ON THE STREET.

TRYING TO BRING HOME.

JUST ADD TON CONNIE'S POINT.

LEGISLATURE DID FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS PAST SESSION APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR REUNITING PEOPLE WITH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ON THE CONTINENT.

I THINK ONE IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THAT IS THE NOT JUST FOLKS THAT HAVE COME HERE BRAND NEW.

BUT IF SOMEONE NEEDS HELP TO GET FOR TO FAMILY WILLING TO TAKE THEM IN ON THE CONTINENT, OR COMMUNITY THAT CONNECTED TO, THAT RESOURCE IS AVAILABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE ALSO.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING IN SOME QUESTIONS HERE.

WILL FROM PEARL CITY SAYS A LOT OF HOMELESS HAVE MENTAL ISSUES.

ALLOW HOW WILL THEY GET TREATMENT GETTING THEM INTO HOUSING?

ALL PEOPLE TREATED FOR ALCOHOL OR INCLUSION, SUCCESS RATE OVER 7%.

I CAN'T VERIFY THAT IS TRUE.

IS THAT WORTH THE MONEY?

WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH REASONS.

>> TIER OF PEOPLE WHY PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS.

CAN BE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

ECONOMIC.

MIXTURE OF THEM.

ONE CAN LEAD INTO ANOTHER.

WHILE SOMEONE ON THE STREET.

WHEN YOU SAY THOSE NUMBER, REALLY ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE PICTURE.

BECAUSE WE REDUCED FAMILY HOMELESSNESS.

IT'S THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN IN 8 YEARS.

REDUCED VETERAN HOMELESSNESS.

SO AS A PERSON LOOKS AT SCALABLE ACTIVITIES LIKE THIS, I LOOK AT IT AND SAY WHAT CAN WE DO TO DO SOME SEGMENTATIONS OF PEOPLE THAT ALTHOUGH YOU'RE HOUSING PEOPLE, AND SOLVING THEM, ONE AT A TIME, THERE ARE SEGMENTS OF PEOPLE THAT CAN YOU APPLY PROGRAMS TO BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT GOVERNMENTS TO.

SO WE LOOKED AT LAST YEAR, WE LOOKED AT POPULATIONS THAT WANTED TO BE HOUSED.

ESPECIALLY FAMILIES.

WE TOOK CARE OF THAT MONEY AND APPLIED THAT INTO A PROGRAM CALLED OAHU HOUSING NOW.

WE WERE ABLE TO HOUSE OVER 300 FAMILY ALSO, 850 PEOPLE.

SO YOU SAW ACTUALLY THE HOMELESS POINT IN TIME COUNT COME DOWN 17% LAST YEAR.

SO THE UP 3% THIS YEAR, REALLY IS PRETTY GOOD WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT.

COMING DOWN.

SO WE'RE AT LOWER RATES.

THAT BEING SAID, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT FAMILY THING REDUCE, WHAT YOU END UP WITH ADULT HOUSEHOLDS PREDOMINANT NUMBER LEFT.

THAT'S WHAT THE POINTS IN TIME COUNT TELL US US.

WHEN YOU HAVE SINGLE AND MOSTLY MALE ADULTS HAVE SOME OF THESE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND ALSO DRUG ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE PROMINENT THIS THAT SEGMENTATION.

SEE PROGRAMS COMING OUT THAT HOPEFULLY WILL ADDRESS THOSE FOLKS.

WHEN I LOOKED AT MY CHARTS THAT SAID LAST YEAR, WHEN I WAS WORKING I WANTED TO COLLABORATE WITH THE STATE.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE.

THE TOP OF MY CHART THIS YEAR SAYS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING OUT DON'T WANT TO PREANNOUNCE FOR THE MAYOR AND GOVERNMENT.

SEE SOME WRITTEN DOWN CONTRACT PARTNERSHIPS TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

WE THINK SUBSTANTIAL.

MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.

I'M WRITING CONTRACTS AS WE SPEAK.

LEAVE TO THAT.

DRUG USE AND THE MENTAL HEALTH ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SEE TOO.

VERY VISIBLE TO THEM ON THE STREET.

THERE'S AT LOT OF PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN THEY REGARD HOMELESSNESS.

BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY HOMELESS.

IT'S SOMEBODY THAT HAS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES REALLY DO CONFUSE PEOPLE.

PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PREDICT WHAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO DO.

FOREIGN TO YOU ACTIVITY GOING ON.

IT MAY SCARE YOU.

WE ALL DEAL WITH THAT.

SO WE WANT TO HELP THOSE FOLKS.

WE NEED TO GET THEM IN, HELP THEM MAKE A DECISION TO ENGAGE SYSTEM, AND THEN APPLY.

MENTAL HEALTH IS ADDRESSABLE.

VERY MUCH ADDRESSABLE.

SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES, CONNIE TAKES ON SOME REALLY HARD ONE.

WE HELP BUY A FACILITY ON DILLINGHAM.

THAT SHE'S JUST RECENTLY OPENED UP REALLY DOES TOUGH, TOUGH WORK AROUND DETOX AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

THOSE QUESTIONS ARE VERY GOOD QUESTIONS.

AND WE NEED TO SEGMENT THOSE OUT.

SO WE CAN ADDRESS THEM AND SEGMENTS BUT WE SOLVE THEM ONE AT A TIME.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT FACILITY.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.

IT IS NEW.

SOMETHING THAT COULD BE REALLY GAME CHANGER.

>> ANTON WAS TALKING ABOUT IOLOPIA HOMELESS TRIAGE CENTER OPENED JUST A MONTH AGO.

I THINK I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT FACILITY.

IN IT'S TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN OPENED, WE TOOK ABOUT 29 REFERRALS AND TOOK IN 15 PEOPLE, AND ALREADY, WE HAVE 7 SUCCESSFUL DISCHARGES.

IT THESE ARE PEOPLE GOT DETOXED.

ON METH AND ALCOHOL.

REST OF THEM METHAMPHETAMINE ABUSE.

THING THAT BOTHERED ME FOR YEARS.

EVEN WHEN I WAS STATE HOSPITAL, I SAW A LOT PEOPLE COMING IN WHO WERE CHRONICALLY USING METHAMPHETAMINE.

IT JUST DESTROYED THEIR MINDS.

>> I SEE THEM ON THE STREET NOW.

AND I REALLY FELT LIKE THIS IS A POPULATION THAT REALLY HAVE TO TACKLE.

WITH THE HELP OF CITY, GIVING US HUD FUNDING TO ACQUIRE THE FACILITY AND STATE PROVIDING LEGISLATURE GIVING US GIA TO START THE FIRST YEAR, IT'S JUST BEEN REMARKABLE.

BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME SUCCESSFUL DISCHARGES HAVING TO DO WITH THE KIND OF HELP THAT THEY'RE GETTING.

>> COMING INTO A SPACE WHERE IT'S JUST TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM BEING ON THE STREET.

CLEAN.

BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S QUIET.

PEOPLE CAN REST.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIFE AND HAVE EAT AS MUCH AS THEY WANT TO.

AND THEY ARE JUST REALLY MAKING RECOVERIES THAT WE WERE NOT FULLY EXPECTING BUT WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SEE.

AND EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THEM LAUGH, REALLY WENT AFTER BEING DETOXED ALREADY.

AND SAY ONE THING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

WE'VE BEEN VERY MUCH OF FIELD.

CITY FUNDED PROGRAM FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS CALLED OUTREACH NAVIGATION PROGRAM.

THAT HELPS US ACTUALLY HAVE ATTORNEY HELP US PETITION FOR COURT ORDERED TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE.

THAT HAS BEEN SUPERSUCCESSFUL AFTER WE TWEAK THE LAW A LITTLE BIT MORE.

STATUTE WAS AT FIRST NOT TO FRIENDLY TO US USING IT.

SINCE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY HELP A LOT MORE PEOPLE WITH MEDICATION IF USING LONG ACTING INJECTABLE MEDICATIONS HELP SOMEBODY SUSTAINED SOMEBODY BEING TREATED FOR A ONE OR TWO MONTHS.

BEFORE YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE MEDICATION EVERY DAY.

ONE OR TWO MONTHS.

DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY MORE.

SEEING REMARKABLE CHANGES IN PEOPLE.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO CLARIFY FOR AUDIENCE.

I DON'T THINK ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING IDEA.

IF YOU COULD JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NUMBERS.

JUST SO FOLKS ARE CLEAR.

THIS IS WHEN YOU SEE INDIVIDUAL ON THE STREET WHO IS CLEARLY MAYBE EXPERIENCING SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS.

ABLE TO ENGAGE THEM AND GIVE THEM MEDICATION ON THE STREET.

HOW DOES THAT ACTUALLY WORK?

IF YOU HAVE TO GET A COURT ORDER, HOW QUICKLY CAN YOU DO THAT?

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO SERVICE AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT AFTER THEY RECEIVE THAT MEDICATION?

>> BEAUTY OF THIS PROGRAM IS THAT FOCUS WASN'T JUST GETTING COURT ORDERS.

WE DO GUARDIANSHIP AND ASSISTANT COMMUNITY TREATMENT ORDERS.

OVER HALF THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE HELPED TO GET TREATED WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO GO TO COURT.

SO THEY'RE TAKING MEDICATIONS AND I WOULD SAY THERE'S ABOUT 150 TO 200 PEOPLE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY HELP MEDICATE.

AND THE ONES THAT WE DO GO FOR THE ASSISTED COMMUNITY TREATMENT IS BECAUSE THEY REALLY REFUSE IT.

IF WE GET THE ORDER, THEY DON'T GET TREATED AWAY ON THE STREET.

TAKE THEM INTO THE HOSPITAL.

TREATED.

ON THE MEDICATIONS, BEING ABLE TO PLACE THEM ELSEWHERE EVEN IF THEY COME OUT, GETTING BETTER AND CONTINUE TO OUTREACH.

EVENTUALLY MANY OF THEM ARE REALLY OPEN TO HOUSING FINALLY.

AT THE BEGINNING CAN'T EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF THEM.

>> TO THAT POINT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ROOT CAUSE TO HOMELESSNESS ARE FAMILIES CAN'T DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.

END UP, PERSON ENDS UP LEAVING, THERE COULD BE SOME ABUSE INVOLVED.

SO THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION, I WANT TO FOR THE VIEWER CALLED IN THAT QUESTION, IT'S CALLED NAMI.

808‑591‑1297.

FOR FAMILY OUT THERE HAS A FAMILY MEMBER THAT IS IN THE HOUSE STRUGGLING LIKE THAT, OR LOST SOMEBODY, BECAUSE OF THAT, GIVE THEM A CALL.

THEY CAN GIVE YOU A LOT OF TOOLS TO HELP YOU THERE.

AND CAN HELP THAT FAMILY UNIT.

YOU CAN REUNITE FAMILY UNITS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

>> ADD SOMETHING TO WHAT CONNIE AND ANTON SAID.

REALLY HARD AREA.

TREATMENT LONG OUTCOMES LONGTERM ARE NOT GREAT.

BEST TOOLS WE HAVE FOR SOMEONE TO RECOVER AND STAY CLEAN AND SOBER AND FULLY HEAL FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, IT'S TOUGH TO GET THOSE OUTCOMES.

WHAT ANTON SEEKING TO REUNITE FAMILIES COMES BACK TO SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS TO PEOPLE.

IN ADDITION TRYING NEW THINGS LIKE FACILITY AND TREATMENT, WE ALSO GOT TO BE LOOKING AT AS PART OF TRYING SOMETHING NEW, WAYS TO BUILD SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY FOR FOLKS.

FAMILY UNIT CAN'T BE THAT, BUILD NEW SENSE OF FAMILY FOR PEOPLE.

BEFORE TAKING THIS JOB, MOST OF MY TIME, I SPENT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH FOLKS ON THE STREET.

AND I KNOW SEVERAL DOZEN PEOPLE GOTTEN CLEAN AND SOBER.

EVERY ONE OF THEM GOT CLEAN AND SOBER.

ONE OF THEM WENT THROUGH A PROGRAM.

MANY OF THEM DIDN'T.

AND EVERY ONE OF THEM GOT CLEAN AND SOBER OVER TIME.

HAD HELP OF SOMEONE THEY LOVE AND WAS OFTEN DOING IT FOR SOMEONE THAT THEY CARED DEEPLY ABOUT.

SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THIS ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE TOO.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING UP THAT GRAPHIC ONE MORE TIME.

LAST ONE THAT WE LOOKED AT ABOUT THE UNSHELTERED POPULATION SURVEY.

TALKING ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT A LOT OF THESE FOLKS ARE FACING FOR AUDIENCE AS A REFRESHER HERE.

62%.

OR MORE REPORTING DISABLING CONDITION.

39% REPORTED MENTAL ILLNESS THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.

36% WERE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.

AND 22% WERE 60 YEARS OR OLDER.

TALK ABOUT THAT OLDER POPULATION.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU ADAM.

SARA.

MAINLAND APARTMENT UNITS OR SENIOR.

ARE THERE PLANS TO BUILD THESE TYPE OF APARTMENTS WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FOR RESOURCES FOR KUPUNA IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> NEED MORE.

WE IF JUST BREAK GROUND IN MONTH ON‑BRAND NEW 40 UNIT SENIOR HOUSING FACILITY FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS.

SERVE THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

AND WE CAN DO MORE.

WE'VE GOT AGING POPULATION.

NEED FOR SENIOR HOUSING IS ONLY GOING TO GROW.

AND I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK QUICKLY WHAT WE JUST TALKING ABOUT.

MULTIPLE REASONS FOR SOMEONE BEING HOMELESS.

AND THEN THEREFORE, MULTIPLE TYPES OF SOLUTIONS TO SUIT THEM TO FIT EACH SITUATION.

BUT THE ONE COMMONALITY ALL HAVE IS THEY HAVE NO HOME.

DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS WHATEVER ISSUES SOMEONE HAS IF THEY'RE LIVING, CURLED UP ON THE SIDEWALK.

HAVING TO MOVE EVERY NIGHT AND BE ROUSTED FROM WHERE THEY GO.

PROVIDING THAT BASIC SHELTER AND SOME SORT OF STABILITY SO THAT WHATEVER THE ISSUE IS, WHAT WHETHER IT'S MENTAL OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR ADDRESSING PHYSICAL ISSUES, CAN BE ADDRESSED.

IS THE FIRST KEY ELEMENT.

WHETHER THEY'RE KUPUNA OR SOMEBODY 30 YEARS OLD.

>>Yunji: YOU TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF JUST HAVING AGING POPULATION OVERALL.

THAT WE DO HAVE QUITE A LARGE NUMBER OF SENIOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ONLY GROWING.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ELDERLY AND HOMELESSNESS?

>> WELL, HOMELESS TAKES A REAL TOLL ON LIFE SPAN.

AND REALLY, FIGURES RANGE FROM 10 TO 15, SOME PEOPLE EVEN SAY 20 YEARS IT CAN TAKE OFF SOMEONE'S LIFE.

SOME THAT IS HOMELESS OVER 60 YEARS OLD VERY EXPOSED.

ABILITY TO WITHSTAND NOT JUST ELEMENTS OF BEING HOMELESS, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE, ISSUES AND EVERYTHING.

NUTRITION IS LOW.

AND YOU'RE NOT GETTING KIND OF FOOD THEY NEED.

AND DISCONNECTED.

AND THEY CAN BE LOST.

I THINK IT'S A REAL STRUGGLE.

I THINK THAT AS WE HAVE THIS GROWING POPULATION OF AGING IN OUR ISLAND, THAT ALL OF THAT PLAYS WE HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE CONNECTED.

THEIR FINANCE IS NOT ALLOW THEM.

THEY CAN BECOME HOMELESS.

WE ARE CELEBRATING HALE OPENING UP IN SEPTEMBER.

HUNDREDS OF UNITS FOR SENIORS.

GIVE A GATHERING PLATES FOR SENIORS.

BACK TO RELATIONSHIP CONCEPT THAT SENIORS HAVE GATHERING PLACES, IT REALLY WORKS.

>> I KNOW DURING COVID DID A LOT OF MEALS.

PROGRAMS ABOUT CONNECTIVITY SO PEOPLE DIDN'T FEEL ISOLATE AGING AND HOMELESS ISOLATING.

DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR HEALTH.

>>Yunji: HOUSING SOMEONE WHO IS ELDERLY WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAN HOUSING SOMEONE WHO MAY BE YOUNG AND MORE PHYSICALLY ABLE.

>> DEFINITELY.

THERE IS HEALTHY AGING AND THERE IS UNHEALTHY AGING.

WHAT ADAM SAYING ABOUT NEEDING A PLACE, PLACE SO IMPORTANT.

NEEDING A PLACE.

SERVICES EQUALLY IMPORTANT.

DEALING WITH PEOPLE COMING INTO SHELTER SEEING THERE'S MULTIPLE LAYERS OF PROBLEMS.

SOME PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING EARLY DEMENTIA.

SOME PEOPLE ARE VERY FRAIL AND EASILY GET HURT AND SO HAVING PLACES RETROFITTED AND REALLY THINKING IN TERMS OF ASSISTED LIVING, WHERE PEOPLE GET THE CARE THAT THEY NEED, AT THE TIME THAT THEY NEED.

SO AS THEY NEED MORE CARE, SOMEBODY IS THERE TO PROVIDE IT.

SOMEONE LIKE ADAM'S BUILDING HOUSING, WE NEED SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT CAN ACTUALLY HELP WITH THE SERVICES FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

I THINK FOLKS THAT ARE HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE AGING, REALLY NEED MAYBE MORE TRAINING IN SOME WAYS TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COULD BE GOING WRONG.

HOW DO YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SOMEBODY SUFFERING MENTAL ILLNESS VERSUS SOMEBODY WITH DEMENTIA.

ANTON SAYS, NUTRITION PROBLEMS WHAT'S CAUSING SOME OF THE MENTAL DISORDERS THEY'RE EXPERIENCING.

REQUIRES ASSESSMENT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO GET BETTER AT IT.

REALLY THANKFUL FOR THESE GUYS IN THE WAY PEOPLE ARE BRINGING MORE HOUSING ON BOARD AND ALSO MORE SERVICE.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING IN THIS.

QUESTION FROM CHERYL ON MAUI.

THIS IS QUESTION DIRECTED TO YOU JAMES.

HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT PRIORITIZE TACKLING HOMELESSNESS?

FOR INSTANCE, IT SEEMS THAT THEY CLEAN UP HOMELESS NEAR TOURIST DESTINATIONS AREAS RATHER THAN IN NONTOURISTS AREAS.

STATEWIDE ISSUE.

AND SOME COMMUNITIES FEEL LIKE THEY'RE LOW ON THE LIST.

HOW DOES, WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY RESOURCES.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD THAT DOZEN IN THE FIRST TERM.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE THEY GO AND WHO GETS ACCESS.

>> ONE THING I WANT TO CLARIFY, AS FAR AS ENFORCEMENT AND GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF AREA, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT OUR OFFICE PARTICIPATES IN.

OR IS IN CHARGE.

SO WE'RE NOT DECIDING WHICH AREAS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF.

THERE'S NO PRIORITIZATION ON THAT.

OUR FOCUS AS I SAID IS ON CREATING THOSE SPACES TO BRING PEOPLE HOME.

THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO END THIS CHALLENGE PERMANENTLY.

GET THE PEOPLE FRUSTRATED ABOUT HAVING PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS SOLUTION IS CREATE SPACE FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

QUESTION ABOUT WHERE THIS WILL HAPPEN, PART OF GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE IS THIS HAS TO HAPPEN IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

WERE WE'VE GOT TO FIND SPACE IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

THAT WAS REASON HE WANTED THE MEDICAL RESPITE KAU HALE WHERE IT IS.

ABOUT 90‑SECOND WALK FROM WASHINGTON PLACE.

90 SECONDS FROM QUEEN'S HOSPITAL.

RIGHT IN HIS BACKYARD.

INTENTIONAL.

BECAUSE HE WANTS ME OUT THERE, HE WANTS TO BE OUT THERE SAYING WE CANNOT CHOOSE NOT IN MY BACKYARD WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESSNESS.

OR THE FACILITIES AND HOUSING.

THAT CAN HOUSE AND SERVE PEOPLE HOMELESSNESS.

IF WE STICK WITH NOT IN MY BACKYARD, WE'RE CHOOSING HOMELESSNESS.

EVERY COMMUNITY AS FAR AS KAU HALE THEMSELVES, GOVERNOR HAS SAID I WANT TO TARGET SIX ON OAHU, AND TWO IN EACH OF THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS COUNTIES.

THAT'S NOT A HARD AND FAST NUMBER.

IF WE CAN STRETCH THE RESOURCES FURTHER.

AND LEVERAGE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, MAY DO MORE THAN THAT.

BUT THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING IS THE GOAL.

>>Yunji: THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION HERE.

FROM WAIKIKI.

ASKING IF THE CORE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUSPEND IN WAIKIKI, WE KNOW THAT THE FOCUS HAD BEEN CHINATOWN AND DOWNTOWN AREA FOR CORE.

FOLKS NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, IF YOU COULD TELL PEOPLE BRIEFLY WHAT CORE IS AND HOW IT'S BEEN WORKING AND WHERE THOSE RESOURCES ARE GOING.

>> EXCELLENT.

>> CRISIS OUTREACH RESPONSE AND ENGAGEMENT, CORE.

DEVELOP THAT PROGRAM, YOU FOLKS WERE INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF IT.

AND WE BROUGHT TOGETHER STATE OFFICIALS IN A STATE, COUNTY TABLE, DEVELOPING COUNTY PROGRAM.

WE BROUGHT SERVICE PROVIDERS TO THE TABLE.

BUSINESS LEADERS SOME FROM WAIKIKI AND ALSO HAD IN JAMES HELP WITH THIS, TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE HOMELESS.

SO THAT WE COULD TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS LIKE WHEN SOMEBODY APPROACHES THEM.

WHAT IS THAT WORLD LIKE.

I MEAN, I COULD IMAGINE IT IN MANY WAYS BUT I CAN'T REALLY KNOW THAT.

SO WHEN WE DEVISED THE PROGRAM, ENDED UP SAYING ALTERNATIVE TO HPD RESPONSE TO 911 CALL THAT SOMEONE HOMELESS IS NOT A CRIME.

MAYBE WE CAN THEN APPROACH SOMEONE WITH SOME SORT OF SERVICE.

>> IT COULD BE A MEDICAL SERVICE.

JUST WORKING WITH THEM.

GETTING TO KNOW THEM TRYING TO BUILD TRUST.

GIVING THEM A RELATIONSHIP TO BUILD TRUST.

BACK TO THAT IDEA OF CREATIVE WAY TO MAKE A DECISION TO ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM.

WE'VE BEEN BUILDING THAT KEY STRATEGIC ITEMS OF CORE.

MADE IT A CITY PROGRAM.

LOOKED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OTHER CITIES CONTRACTED WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS PROGRAM BECOMES STATIC BECAUSE SERVICE PROVIDERS ONLY SERVICE THEIR CONTRACT.

IN THIS CASE, CITY.

WE CAN PIVOT AND MOVE.

RIGHT NOW, IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THAT QUESTION, CORE HAS MOVED ITSELF INTO THE IWILEI RESOURCE CENTER.

MOST OF THE THREE SOURCES CONTINUING TO GROW HIGHER MEDICAL RESPITE, 19‑BED RESPITE.

19 BEDS THERE.

YEAR OR TWO.

MEDICAL RESPITE.

STAY THERE FOR A WHILE AND HEAL, WHILE HEALING GET TO KNOW THEIR STORY.

IF YOU CAN GET TO KNOW THEIR STORY MAKE COME UP WITH AT RIGHT SOLUTION FOR THEM.

PROGRAM BUT SOLUTION ONE AT A TIME.

SO RIGHT NOW, CORE DOES MAKE VISITS TO WAIKIKI.

BUT NOT AS MUCH AS IT DID 2 MONTHS AGO.

SAFE AND SOUND PROGRAM.

IN WAIKIKI WHICH IS WORKING.

AND ADDED SECURITY IN WAIKIKI.

WHICH I THINK WILL ALSO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WE HAVEN'T LOST FOCUS.

CHINATOWN LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN 2 YEARS AGO.

IMPLEMENTING MEDICAL RESPITE.

CORE IS STILL HIRING.

JIM ISLANDER IAN SANTI ARE COMMITTED TO PROGRAM AND MAYOR COMMITTED TO THAT PROGRAM.

>>Yunji: BRING IN A VIEWER QUESTION.

TALKED ABOUT THE HOUSING THAT YOU ARE BUILDING AND FAMILIES ABLE TO HELP.

THOSE FOLKS WANT TO GET OUT OF THAT CIRCUMSTANCE AND NEED THOSE RESOURCE.

>> WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC HOMELESS AND WHICH DID THAT GRAPHIC THERE, SAID THAT 36% OF THAT UNSHELTERED POPULATION POINT IN TIME COUNT REPORTED BEING CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ADDRESS CHRONIC HOMELESS DO NOT WANT TO ABIDE BY THE RULES TO GET HELP AND HOUSING?

HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THOSE FOLKS?

>> DIFFICULT.

I MEAN, LIKE OAHU,   KAUAI EXPERIENCES SWEEPS OF ENCAMPMENT AREAS.

LIKE JAMES OFFICE, MY OFFICE, IS NOT INVOLVED IN THAT.

OUR MISSION IS PROVIDE HOUSING UNITS.

IT'S A COMPLAINT DRIVEN PROCESS.

I'M NOT SURE HOW WE WILL SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE HAVE SO FEW UNITS TO ADDRESS THE WILLING FOLKS WHO WANT ASSISTANCE.

WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON NOW.

ADDRESS THE PEOPLE, SEEKING HELP IN NEED OF HELP, WHO WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCE TO SERVE.

AT SOME POINT, YOU COULD ENVISION I CAN ENVISION, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MODEL WOULD LOOK LIKE, THERE HAS TO BE EVENT I WILL NOT JUST CARROTS BUT A STICK.

OF ENFORCEMENT.

THAT CAN'T HAPPEN UNLESS WE PROVIDED SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO PROVIDE GENUINE SOLUTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT IT.

THEN THE STICK COMES IN WHEN WE'VE GOT A PUBLIC PARK THAT THE PUBLIC DEMANDS TO USE.

IT NEEDS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE.

AND IT NEEDS TO BE MADE SAFE.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE MANY STEPS BEFORE WE CAN GET TO THE POINT OF SWEEPING PEOPLE AWAY.

CONTINUALLY.

>> ADD SOMETHING QUICKLY TO WHAT ADAM SAID.

IN MY EXPERIENCE, MAJORITY OF FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE STREET, IT'S NOT THAT THEY DON'T WANT HELP OR DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW RULES IN MANY CASES GIVEN IN THE SYSTEM.

PART OF REASON FOR THAT WE'VE HAD THIS BIG BOTTLENECK END OF OUR SYSTEMS.

PROMISE PEOPLE COME INTO SHELTERS SIGN UP.

GET ELIGIBLE.

SIGN UP FOR SERVICES GET A CASE MANAGER WE'LL GET YOU HOUSING.

BUT GETTING PEOPLE INTO THAT HOUSING, THAT LAST STEP HAS BEEN SO DIFFICULT.

THAT PEOPLE SPEND MONTHS OR YEARS IN SHELTERS, CYCLING IN AND OUT OF SHELTERS BACK TO THE STREET.

>> AND AFTER A WHILE, GIVEN UP SAYING WE'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE.

I'M NOT GOING TO, I DON'T HAVE FAITH IN THE SYSTEM TO HELP ME IN THE WAYS SAYING.

IT CAN HELP ME.

SO PART OF IT IS FREEING UP THAT BOTTLENECK AT THE END.

SO THAT WE CAN MAKE GOOD ON THOSE PROMISES AND THEN PART OF IT IS FORTIFYING THE SYSTEM SO THAT IT WORKS REALLY WELL WHATEVER OBSTACLES AND BOTTLENECKS ARE ON THAT JOURNEY FROM STREET TO HOME, CLEARED AWAY, SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE QUICKLY ALONG THAT PATH AND BRING THEM HOME.

>>Yunji: I WOULD LOVE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

>> I AGREE WITH JAMES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SUFFERED TRAUMA OVER TRAUMA OVER TRAUMA ON THE STREET.

FOR A LOT OF THEM, HAVE GIVEN UP HOPE.

MEANS WE NEED TO BE THERE WHERE MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.

TO REALLY ENCOURAGE THEM AND INVITE THEM INTO A DIFFERENT KIND OF SPACE.

AND SIMILAR TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER ABOUT OUR HOMELESS TRIAGE CENTER.

THAT IS ONE WAY.

TO JUST TELL THEM, HEY, THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY.

HERE'S A WAY THAT YOU CAN COME IN.

BUT AGAIN, TO JAMES POINT, WE NEED SOME PLACE FOR THEM TO GO AFTERWARD.

THAT REALLY KEEPS THEM GOING ON TRACK.

THINK FOR SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE STREET, THEY ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME AS WELL.

AND I THINK FOR THOSE PEOPLE, COMMITTING THOSE CRIMES REALLY NEED TO HELP THE POLICE, ACTUAL TAMP DOWN ON SOME OF THAT VIOLENCE THAT'S GOING ON.

WE'VE HAD TO REACH OUT TO THE POLICE MANY TIMES TO JUST REALLY HELP SOME OF OUR FOLKS WHO HAVE BECOME VICTIMS AS WELL.

SO RIGHT NOW, REALLY WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY POLICING TEAMS SO THAT WE KNOW WHO THEY'RE DEALING WITH THAT ARE COMMITTING SOME OF THESE CRIMES.

THEY CAN TELL US WHO THEY THINK ARE MENTALLY ILL SO WE CAN VISIT WITH WITH THOSE PEOPLE.

WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH HPD AS WELL.

SO I THINK THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO COLLABORATE MORE TO JUST BE ABLE TO USE OUR DIFFERENT STRENGTHS TO COME TOGETHER.

AND I OFTEN WILL CALL THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ALSO WHEN SOMEBODY WHO I BELIEVE IS MORE MENTALLY ILL AND EVEN IF THEY GET PICKED UP FOR SOMETHING, MAYBE NEED TO BE DIVERTED TO THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL FOR ASSESSMENT.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TOOLS THAT WE ARE USING.

BUT I THINK WE JUST NEED TO HAVE EVERYBODY GET ON BOARD ABOUT HOW TO USE THEM BETTER.

>>Yunji: FLOOD OF QUESTIONS ABOUT TEN MINUTES LEFT.

WANT TO GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN.

SHELLIE WANTS TO KNOW, ANTON LOVE FOR YOU TO TAKE THIS ON.

YOU MENTIONED MYRIAD OF AGENCIES YOU ARE IN CHARGE.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PREVENT RESIDENTS FROM LOSING HOUSING?

FOLKS VULNERABLE ON THE EDGE.

CITY HAS REALLY QUITE A BIT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> SO CITY EMBARKED WITH FEDERAL AID ON RENT RELIEF AND UTILITY RELIEF.

PARTNERED WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND OUR HAWAIIAN GROUPS TO DO THAT.

EVEN BEFORE THAT, WE REACHED OUT TO MANY SERVICE PROVIDERS.

SO WE CAN REACH THE COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE THAT NEEDED THAT.

THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE COUNTRY.

OFFICE ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION RUNS THAT PROGRAM.

SO SUCCESSFUL, AWARDED NATIONALLY FOR OUR SUCCESS WITH THAT.

A LOT TO DO WITH PEOPLE NOT BECOMING HOMELESS.

WE REOPENED THAT PROGRAM.

WE OPENED IT.

APPLIED FOR.

STARTING TO SATELLITE POP‑UPS TO PEOPLE CAN APPLY AGAIN.

CONTINUE TO TO DO THAT.

EVICTION MORATORIUM WENT DOWN, VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THAT SITUATION.

>> HASN'T OCCURRED LIKE WE THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE.

I THINK WE WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB IN THAT ARENA.

OTHER PROGRAMS SERVICE PROVIDERS LOST MONEY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE RELIEF FOR THEM.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM OPENING UP AGAIN.

SECOND TRAUNCH COME IN WITH FINANCIAL RECORDS AND WE CAN JUST REIMBURSE THEM AND THEY CAN USE THAT MONEY FOR WHATEVER THEY NEED TO USE.

A LOT OF THOSE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES.

PREDEVELOPMENT SOMEBODY FROM BEING IN THE STREET, PEOPLE WE'RE WORKING WITH.

PREVENT PEOPLE ON THE STREET.

>>Yunji: HOUSING MARKET IS VERY TIGHT IN KAUAI AS WELL.

>> IT IS.

LEVEL OF EXTREME DESPERATION.

LIKE CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU, DISTRIBUTED OVER $30 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE DURING COVID.

GOT RECORD NUMBER OF SECTION 8 VOUCHERS SUPPORTING HOUSING AND WE LIKE TO PAT OUR BACK, PAT OURSELF ON THE BACK FOR SUCCESS ADMINISTERING THESE PROGRAMS.

FLIPSIDE LEVEL OF DESPERATION THAT NEEDED THAT ASSISTANCE AND NEED THAT IS LEVEL OF SECTION 8 HOUSING.

SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER THAN JUST OUR SUCCESS IN ADMINISTERING PROGRAM.

>> GREAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE.

ON KAUAI, THAT MONEY IS GONE NOW.

THERE IS NO FEDERAL POOL OF $30 MILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY.

SO I FEAR THE HOUSING CRISIS HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE.

AS FAR AS COST OF HOUSING ON KAUAI.

AVERAGE HOME IS $1.15 MILLION.

SOMETHING CLOSE TO 24% OF OUR HOUSING UNITS ARE CONSIDERED VACANT.

BEING USED AS RESORT OR VACATION HOMES.

AND WE GOT INCREASE NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE ON THE STREET.

DESPERATE SITUATION.

AND I APPLAUD MY STAFF FOR DOING A GREAT JOB ADMINISTERING THOSE PROGRAMS.

SYMBOL OF PROBLEMS.

DEEP PROBLEMS.

MIGHT WANT TO GET TO THIS QUESTION.

WAHIAWA.

QUESTION FOR JAMES.

YOU MENTIONED FOCUS ON GOVERNOR NOT ON MOVING HOMELESS IN AND OUT BUT ON PROVIDING HOUSING IS WAHIAWA HOSPITAL ON THE LIST OR OPTION TO CONSIDER.

PERHAPS NOT THAT FACILITY IN PARTICULAR.

MORE BROADLY WHAT KIND OF CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, TRANSFORMING SPACES, TAKING OTHER EXISTING STATE PROPERTIES.

WHAT IS ON THE TABLE THERE.

>> RELYING ON COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND FOLKS MAYBE LIKE THIS CALLER WHO HAVE IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, LOCATIONS, AND SINCE WHICH ANNOUNCED KAUHALE INITIATIVE, FOLKS HAVE STEPPED FORWARD.

I CAN TELL YOU THERE IS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN WAHIAWA THAT IS LOOKING AT SPACE RIGHT NOW.

COME FORWARD PARCEL OF LAND, WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT A KAU HALE HERE AND HOUSE PEOPLE IN THIS SPACE.

PRIVATE LANDOWNERS STEPPED FORWARD, I HAVE PIECE OF PROPERTY.

CAN YOU DO SOMETHING WITH IT TO HELP ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS CHALLENGE.

STATE OWNED PROPERTIES.

AS WELL.

BUT TO ME, KEY IS HAVING STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP LEAD THE CHARGE.

BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF GOING TO DO TWO THINGS.

ONE IS THAT IS PART OF THE WAY WE ADDRESS NIMBYISM.

IF WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SAYING I WANT THIS HERE.

AND I WANT TO CHAMPION IT.

SPEAK UP FOR THE NEED FOR THIS.

THAT'S ONE WAY TO GET OVER THAT HURDLE.

OTHER THING IS COMMUNITY PARTNERS MAKE THOSE SPACES FEEL LIKE A COMMUNITY AND FEEL LIKE HOME AND CONNECT THE RESIDENTS THERE WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE BRINGING FOLKS HOME ABOUT MORE THAN PUTTING ROOF OVER PEOPLE'S HEADS.

IT IS ABOUT HAVING THAT SENSE OF BELONGING AND CONNECTEDNESS AND GOVERNMENT ISN'T GOING TO DO THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT DO THAT.

>>Yunji: WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LEFT.

>> WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU.

I WANT TO SORT OF GO BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED.

WE LOOKED AT THOSE NUMBERS.

YEAR OVER YEAR, THEY ARE UP.

IF YOU LOOK UP AT THE TRAJECTORY POINT OF TIME COUNT.

THINGS GOT BETTER THAN YEARS PAST.

STILL HAVE SO LONG TO GO.

FEELS DIFFERENT NOW.

IN A WAY.

SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN THE TRENCHES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DIFFERENT AND WHAT KIND OF STRIDES, WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS ISSUE, THEY FEEL OVERWHELMED, FEEL FRUSTRATED.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT NOW GO AROUND THE TABLE.

SO MAYBE A MINUTE OR LESS EACH.

START WITH YOU ADAM.

>> I THINK WE'VE REACHED STATEWIDE FEDERALLY AND COUNTIES.

KIND OF REACHED APEX OF CONCERN ABOUT HOUSING.

AND WE'RE LUCKILY, AS THAT ATTENTION HAS GROWN, STATE, FEDERAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ARE ALL VERY MUCH IN THE BLACK RIGHT NOW.

SO THERE IS EXCESS FUNDS TO SPEND ON THESE ISSUES.

AND THERE'S LOTS OF PROGRAMS HAPPENING.

THERE IS MORE BEING SPENT ON HOUSING.

AND HOMELESSNESS.

BUT I FEAR THAT PERHAPS THE GOOD DAYS MAY BE LIMITED.

I WORRY ABOUT HOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS THAT ARE RAMPING RIGHT NOW FOUR OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.

>>Yunji: CONNIE, WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE ABOUT WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS MOMENT?

>> I THINK PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN STATE GOVERNMENT AND COUNTIES AND ALSO, WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT IS COMING THROUGH, IT'S UNPRECEDENTED I THINK.

BUT I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE WISE ABOUT HOW WE BUILD SYSTEM.

I THINK WE NEED TO BUILD IN A BALANCED MANNER.

I THINK I WANT TO JUST PUT A LAST PLUG IN FOR 2 THINGS.

BEING ABLE TO USE DATA.

LOOK AT MAKING THAT PROGRESS AND SEE HOW WE CAN TARGET CERTAIN SUBPOPULATIONS TO HELP.

THE OTHER ONE IS I HOPE THAT STATE ALSO, AND COUNTY, REALLY LOOKS AT FUNDING THE RESOURCES, GIVING RESOURCES TO THE FRONT LINE PEOPLE THAT DO THE WORK.

BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T PAY PEOPLE, SO THEY SURVIVE, I MEAN THEY'RE JUST NOT THAT MUCH BETTER THAN SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE'RE HELPING.

THAT IS NOT GOOD.

>>Yunji: ANTON, WHAT DIFFERENT ABOUT IN MOMENT?

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, WE BOUGHT A 24‑BEDROOM PLACE IN WAHIAWA.

SO SOLICITATION OUT FOR USE THERE.

JUST RECENTLY, SECRETARY FOR HUD VISITED AND WHEN SHE VISITED OUR ISLANDS, WHAT SHE RECOGNIZED WHICH I BELIEVE IS TO YOUR POINT OF YOUR QUESTION, WE'RE AT A TIME WHERE THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, GOVERNOR, MAYORS, ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

NEVER SEEN THAT KIND OF COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP BEFORE.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND DO ALL WE CAN TO LEVERAGE IT.

BECAUSE IN THE END, WE NEED BEDS OF MANY FLAVORS.

>>Daryl: JAMES, GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

>> I WOULD ECHO WHAT OTHERS SAID ABOUT COLLABORATION.

I THINK THAT IS MAKES THIS MOMENT DIFFERENT.

OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS DIFFERENT MAYBE JUST EMERGING NOW, IS THAT WE ARE HAVING IDEAS AND INITIATIVE AND VOICES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING HOMELESSNESS OR WHO HAVE LIVED HOMELESS RECENTLY, BE PART OF CONVERSATION.

THAT IS INFORM A LOT OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE NOW PUTTING INTO PLACE.

INFORMED KAU HALE INITIATIVE BECAUSE WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT THAT IS KIND OF SPACE THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO GO TO.

AND WANT TO LIVE IN.

AND IT'S INFORMED EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY.

I THINK HAVING THOSE VOICES AND THEIR INITIAL TOUGH AND IDEAS AT THE TABLE, IS ALSO A GAME‑CHANGER.

INITIATIVES.

GAME‑CHANGER FOR ME PERSONALLY.

NUDGING US IN NEW DIRECTIONS.

>>Yunji: SQUEEZE IN ONE MORE QUESTION FROM THE VIEWER.

IF YOU COULD TAKE THIS ONE.

LAST 30 SECONDS OR SO.

HOW CAN REGULAR CITIZENS HELP SOLVE HOMELESSNESS?

FROM PAUL IN MOILIILI.

>> IT'S TWO THINGS COME TO MIND.

ONE IS AS I MENTIONED, KAU HALE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LIMITED TO KAU HALE.

I THINK EVERY ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT IN PLACE TO SERVE HOUSE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS CAN USE THE SUPPORT OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

THAT MIGHT BE JUST COMING OUT TO VOLUNTEER, HAVE LUNCH WITH A PERSON, BRING A MEAL FOR SOMEBODY, DONATE SUPPLIES, BUT BE PART OF THE PROJECTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY IN YOUR AREA, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TAKE THE TIME TO BUILD SOME OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS.

WITH FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT MIND SHIFT GOING TO BE THE GAME‑CHANGER.

RELATED TO THE SECOND THING I WOULD SAY.

WHICH IS EVERYBODY CAN PARTICIPATE AND HELP BY SHIFTING FROM THE NIMBYISM TO IMBYISM.

COMMUNITY MEETING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, MOST OF WHAT YOU HEAR IS COMPLAINTS.

NEED PEOPLE TO STAND UP AND SAY I WANT TO BE PART OF SOLUTION.

YES, I SUPPORT HAVING THIS GROUP HOME OR TREATMENT CENTER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

>>Yunji: MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS: JAMES KOSHIBA, THE GOVERNOR’S COORDINATOR ON HOMELESSNESS, CONNIE MITCHELL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN SERVICES, ANTON KRUCKY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, AND ADAM ROVERSI, THE HOUSING DIRECTOR OF KAUAI COUNTY.

WE ARE TAKING A BREAK FROM INSIGHTS NEXT WEEK, BUT WE WILL BE BACK ON JULY 27TH WHEN WE’LL BE DISCUSSING THE STATE OF OUR ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

NEEDS QUITE A BIT OF WORK.

I’M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

ALOHA!

¶¶ ¶¶