At a recent public meeting, several community members criticized the City and County of Honolulu's plan of building a homeless "transition center" at Sand Island, stating that government officials have not thought the idea through. The primary concerns include having adequate security and what would happen if homeless decide to drop out of the transition center and become permanent residents of Sand Island. Kalihi resident, Jon Kiko, stated, "Dumping somebody in somebody else's backyard is not the solution. You guys need to think about it a little bit more." Others called the center a concentration camp for homeless.
City officials hope to build what they are calling the Temporary Mobile Access to Services and Housing. The site would be on a 5-acre plot land near the Sand Island Access Road bridge. Under the proposal, the transition center would be able to house about 100 people who meet the definition of "chronically homeless" and who agree to work toward moving into permanent shelter under the city's Housing First program. Ember Shinn, the City Managing Director, stated that the city opes to open the center in two to three months and that it could help get 40 people off the streets of Waikiki. The plan is to have the center stay open no longer than two years.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-11-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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