Administration’s 90-day plan moves 445 homeless to shelters

During Gov. Neil Abercrombie's 90-day homeless plan, which began in May and ended Aug. 15, some 445 homeless people moved off of island streets and out of emergency shelters.

In Waikiki and urban Honolulu more than 200 people moved into transitional or permanent housing over the 90 days, while 245 homeless people on Maui, Kauai and Hawaii island also moved off of island streets and out of emergency shelters, according to Marc Alexander, Abercrombie's homeless coordinator. "The numbers speak for themselves," Alexander said on Aug. 14 at the Next Step Shelter in Kakaako.

More than 130 people also were referred to housing resources through the state's new homeless hot-line system, which received more than 500 phone calls and emails. A new detailed registry of homeless people in Waikiki and Honolulu's urban core also found "seniors are much more in need than we had really expected," Alexander said. A special team has since been created to specifically look at helping homeless senior citizens, he said.

State Rep. Tom Brower, who represents Waikiki and Ala Moana, has disagreed with the Abercrombie administration for not supporting the concept of a "safe zone" where homeless people can live in a secure area somewhere on Oahu. But on Aug. 14 Brower walked from his home in Waikiki, through Ala Moana Beach Park and along Kakaako's shoreline to get to Abercrombie's press conference and agreed that there seem to be fewer homeless people living on the streets.

Alexander reiterated Sunday his belief that long-term approaches — rather than temporary ideas such as a safe zone — can eliminate homelessness in Hawaii within 10 years. Abercrombie's approach to homelessness entered a new phase on Aug. 25 with the convening of the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness, created by executive order on July 19, which is to develop three- and 10-year homeless plans.

Abercrombie's 90-day homeless plan discouraged church groups and other organizations from feeding homeless people in parks and beaches and instead encouraged homeless people to access services at homeless shelters.

During the 90-day effort, there was unprecedented coordination and cooperation among government, community groups, nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, shelter and outreach services, according to Alexander.