Homelessness Press Conference
Channel: Kirk Caldwell
Date: 2014-06-27

Mayor Kirk Caldwell was joined by top city officials and community leaders at the new "Waikiki Grass Shack Bistro" as he announced the city's plan to address homelessness on O'ahu.

Mayor Caldwell has made combatting homelessness a top priority and, following last week's City Council adoption of the Fiscal Year 2015 budget which begins on July 1, 2014, the Department of Community Services will soon be able to begin the implementation of an ambitious plan to use a historically high amount of funding as expeditiously as possible to make a marked, immediate difference on Oahu's homelessness crisis.

Managing Director Ember Shinn, Department of Community Services Director Pamela Witty-Oakland, Hawaii State Homelessness Coordinator Colin Kippen, and Institute for Human Services Executive Director Connie Mitchell joined Mayor Caldwell as he outlined proposals to help house Oahu's unsheltered homeless families and individuals. U.S. Vets Housing First Coordinator Adam Quon introduced formerly homeless U.S. Marine Corps veteran Scott Charles Fox, who has been successfully housed through his organization's Housing First for 16 months. 

Housing First will first be implemented through $3 million in general funds that will go towards rental assistance ($1.32 million), supportive services ($1.43 million), and administrative expenses ($250,000) aimed at placing chronically homeless individuals and families in Waikiki, Chinatown, and Leeward O'ahu. These funds will be available at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2014.

Mayor Caldwell outlined proposed legislation to further equip the city and local businesses to ensure sidewalks and public places are safe, clean, and accessible to all. Bill 42 calls for the implementation of "sit-lie" measures that have been successfully adopted by a number of municipalities in the rest of the nation. Bill 43 would prohibit public urination and defecation, similar to a law in place in downtown Honolulu. Both bills would only apply to Waikiki and, potentially expanded to other areas across O'ahu.