Hawaii's Homeless

[pzarquon]

Honolulu among 'meanest' to homeless (http://www.hawaiinews.com/archives/health/000323.shtml):When it comes to the treatment of homeless people, Honolulu has been named one of the top ten "meanest cities" and the state of Hawaii named the third "meanest state," according to the National Coalition for the Homeless... This year, Honolulu ranked ninth (of 179 communities surveyed)... Honolulu was ranked 19th in 2003 (of 140 surveyed), and one of the 12 "meanest cities" (of 80 surveyed) in 2002.
I know our own Albert can offer a singularly insightful perspective on the plight of the homeless in "paradise," but I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts. The reasons for the numbers living on the street are varied, and it seems everyone has a theory, or an unusual story, or a personal connection...

The cost of housing, and the cost of living, is up there. And for those who may probably never make the transition to personal housing - for any number of varied reasons - the facilities and resources available to those permanently homeless are simply overwhelmed. It seems to me the money we expend chasing people from one park or neighborhood to another (knowing full well they'll be back the next day) could be better spent... and some hard decisions will have to be made, despite the NIMBY outcry that will inevitably come.

And, as has been acknowledged, the visibility of our homeless problem has a direct impact on what is, for better or worse, our primary industry. I cringe when I read online postings or even professional travel reviews that make note of the people sleeping in doorways or dragging ten shopping carts around town.

What's your take?

[Miulang]

Honolulu among 'meanest' to homeless (http://www.hawaiinews.com/archives/health/000323.shtml):
and some hard decisions will have to be made, despite the NIMBY outcry that will inevitably come.

And, as has been acknowledged, the visibility of our homeless problem has a direct impact on what is, for better or worse, our primary industry. I cringe when I read online postings or even professional travel reviews that make note of the people sleeping in doorways or dragging ten shopping carts around town.

What's your take?
The homeless "problem" is critical in many of the larger metropolitan areas, but as you explain, Ryan, the reasons for homelessness are as varied as the number of people who live on the streets. Some of the blame can be placed on our social service and mental health systems, who deinstutitionalized lots of mentally unstable people but gave them no alternatives once they left the system. Up here, many of the homeless men are casualties of Vietnam and we have our fair share of alcoholics and drug addicts, too. The women and children might be running away from domestic violence.

The homeless have it a little easier in Hawai'i (except for the occasional harrassment by police) because you have no cold, rainy winters to deal with. Up here, we have hundreds of homeless people who live on the street by choice because the shelters are overcrowded and services are hard to come by. On really cold nights, the City will open up emergency shelters for these people, or the shelters offer no real sanctuary because of stealing or worse.

We also have "tent cities" where groups of homeless people come together and form tent communities, with rules and regulations for admittance, which have to move every 3 months to a new location. Thus far, the 2 active tent cities have been lucky because a church group has always stepped up to welcome the transients. Even with the "NIMBY" outcry from certain yuppie neighborhoods, there hasn't been a marked increase in crimes whereever the tent cities have been set up. This is an irrational fear of residents who don't understand the reasons why someone might choose to be homeless, or that, in many cases, the objectors may only be a paycheck or two away from being faced with the same situation.

I personally think that rather than spending the money to keep homeless people off the streets and beaches, the State and counties use that money to set up social service programs to help these people find the health care, educational and housing resources they need to be able to become productive citizens again. Hiding or denying the problem of homeless people doesn't mean the problem is going to go away.

Miulang

[Miulang]

There's an article in today's Advertiser about the "tent city" that's emerged in Waianae. I personally think it's a good idea of have these groups of people organized into communities with rules and regulations and it's not a good idea for the NIMBYs to try to deny that the homeless problem doesn't exist in Hawai'i.

If the churches on Oahu could practice what they preach and kokua and "adopt" these transients by providing meals and social services, they would be helping in 2 ways: it would help the homeless with needed services, and it would help the souls of the congregations that help out the homeless.

Miulang

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Nov/14/ln/ln07p.html

[scrivener]

If the churches on Oahu could practice what they preach and kokua and "adopt" these transients by providing meals and social services, they would be helping in 2 ways: it would help the homeless with needed services, and it would help the souls of the congregations that help out the homeless.

I think this is a little low.

First, How aware are you of what churches on Oahu are doing for people in need? Without even thinking very hard, I can think of four churches in my own denomination who have food pantries and clothing closets for people who need them. Within my own denomination, I know of one program aimed at getting people job training and job placement and one program aimed at helping battered spouses and their children. And I can say with certainty that I'm just scratching the surface.

Second, it seems a bit strange to point fingers at churches and say, "Practice what you preach" about the homeless. It's a huge problem, and maybe churches are doing what they can. If people are so concerned that the churches aren't doing enough, why aren't they getting involved in any of the religious or secular organizations that are trying to make a difference? A church is a group of concerned people who happen to be affiliated because of their common faith; there's nothing stopping non-church-affiliated people from hooking up and doing something themselves.

This is not to say that every church is doing everything it can about the homeless; the truth is, there are a lot of other social concerns, and some congregations focus on those: keeping terminally ill hostpital patients company, helping the elderly with housekeeping chores they can no longer do themselves, tutoring students having difficulty in school, assisting international students with learning English and with filling out paperwork or finding places to live, providing workshops for "suddenly single" divorcees in difficult transitions, and offering families free, qualified, professional family-counseling when they're having difficulty. These are just some of the programs in my own denomination that make an effort to reach out to the community.

Could churches be doing more? Undoubtedly, but it seems unfair to accuse them of not practicing what they preach.

[Miulang]

Up here, it's the local churches who have opened their doors and their hearts to the homeless. They are the ones who are allowing the homeless tent cities to set up camp for 90 days at a time on the grounds of their churches (that's because of a city ordinance that only allows transients to be in one place for 90 days at a time).

I'm not saying all churches have turned their backs on the homeless, and a lot are also heavily engaged in other types of social action too, related to children and women suffering from domestic violence.

What I am suggesting is that the churches who don't yet have a social action cause domestically should look into ways to help the homeless neighbors rather than allow communities with NIMBY attitudes to keep these people from getting some badly needed services. And as a secular person, believe me, I do what I can to support the homeless up here by donating food and blankets to the tent city dwellers. I also contribute to the local foodbank in my neighborhood because I know that I could be one or two paychecks from being in the same situation as some of these people.

Miulang

[craigwatanabe]

Up here, it's the local churches who have opened their doors and their hearts to the homeless. They are the ones who are allowing the homeless tent cities to set up camp for 90 days at a time on the grounds of their churches (that's because of a city ordinance that only allows transients to be in one place for 90 days at a time).

I'm not saying all churches have turned their backs on the homeless, and a lot are also heavily engaged in other types of social action too, related to children and women suffering from domestic violence.

What I am suggesting is that the churches who don't yet have a social action cause domestically should look into ways to help the homeless neighbors rather than allow communities with NIMBY attitudes to keep these people from getting some badly needed services. And as a secular person, believe me, I do what I can to support the homeless up here by donating food and blankets to the tent city dwellers. I also contribute to the local foodbank in my neighborhood because I know that I could be one or two paychecks from being in the same situation as some of these people.

Miulang

Eh Miulang not to rag on you (but I am cuz I tink we stay good friends now :) ) but when I was on the board of trustees at Waiokeola Congregational Church (UCC) on Kilauea Avenue across the street from Kahala Mall, our church not only help fund the Waikiki Health Center but we also donated our time and money to help them as well as provide a place for AA meetings.

Every year we would sell Koala Moa chicken as a fund raiser for the church. Virtually all of us (about 250 members) bought each of the ten tickets we were supposed to sell and we ended up donating the cooked birds to organizations to feed the hungry. Das a lot of birds!

Believe it or not churches provide the much needed public support for the homeless as well as battered citizens of our country. If it weren't for churches and other civic organizations (but churches in particular because of their moral code of conduct), our governmental social welfare system would be taxed to the point where it would imping on other much needed government services such as public schools, public health and safety, and other social services for gap group individuals (not poor enough for government subsidy but poor enough to suffer financially).

And even then, a lot of churches including Waiokeola has pre schools and some even have K-12 to take some of the student population off of the public school system as well. Yes we charged a tuition however because I was on the board of trustees, we also waived a lot of it for needy families. Their names were kept confidential even from the board itself and we only saw the circumstances of the family's financial situation. Guess what, Kamehameha schools is one of those institutions that give financial aid to just over 70 of it's student population.

Churches provide facilities for AA, Toastmasters, and other organizations that help people in need but have no place to hold their meetings. These individuals are on the fringe on becoming destitute but organizations like these help these people cope with their social deficiencies before they become statistics or criminals in our social justice system.

Churches even open their doors during service to help those who have lost their ways and need some spirital guidance. Our congregation always welcomed in strangers and afterwords we would talk to those who stray in and ask them if they would like our support for virutually anything from sparing a few bucks to providing a home while they search for one themselves. Pastors provide meaningful dialog to coax them back into a world of hope.

Churches provide a lot of help and support because of it's moral conviction to help those in need and they do it everyday not just on Sundays or on the holidays. Governmental Social Services agencies open their doors basically during normal business hours with most hotlines manned by volunteers mostly from church groups who donate their time for those causes.

Churches really do a lot, JUST LIKE STARBUCKS WHO GRACEOUSLY DONATED THEIR BEST COFFEE TO THE TROOPS IN IRAQ...yes Miulang a pretty obvious plug for your investments :D

BTW I made some really great coffee from NYC with the help from that grinder you sent me...need more One Ton Pi chips?

[Miulang]

Eh, OK. So if all da Honolulu churches too busy wit their own social action projects, I still like know who going help da homeless people who stay camped out in Waianae den? Den wen go get demselves all organized into one community wit rules and regulations and dey been waiting since Sept. for kokua. All dey been getting is da stinkeye from dakine people who have businesses nearby.

Miulang

So wat kine coffee you wen get from NYC? Chock Full O'Nuts 8 O'Clock coffee? Dat kine best when get half milk and half coffee.

[craigwatanabe]

Believe it or not a lot of homeless choose to live that way. When I used to work the soup lines we used to recommend shelters and even places to stay offered by our church members. They tell us that they like living without having to pay rent.

Others who live in those shanty towns are there because they were kicked out of shelters because of their actions (typically drugs). But for those who are there because there's no other place to live, there are shelters for them and households that are out there, just not enough of them.

I can understand some of the reasons why businesses shun these transients. I've seen them harass patrons to the point where customers don't want to shop there. The reason why some of these transients are there is because at one point these businesses did cater to them giving them free food, but then they would keep coming back or they would bring their friends. Eventually the storefront would become a meeting place for vagrants who swear, fight, and even do drugs right in front of the stores!

At that point the store owner calls the police and thats when the hatred begins from both sides. I've given food and money to these people. Some are grateful and say thankyou, others look at me and tell me they're not charity cases and literally throw the food on the ground but take the money!

I've served in the soup lines and have had food thrown back at me, one homeless man even spit into the pot I was dishing the soup out of. We had to throw out that whole pot. Helping the needy is like being a special needs caretaker. You get burned out real fast after enough of these needy people lash out at you because you're in a higher social order than they. But we stick it out because there are support groups for those of us who choose to help those in need and look past those who are bitter at the world. They still need help whether they realize it or not and we are there for them.

Our governmental social welfare system is there for a reason, it's to help those who have fallen on hard times and are in need of temporary assistance. They are proud people but also know when to ask for help. They are required to follow strict guidelines of performance and follow ups to ensure no fraud and they willingly do so.

It's those who cannot think for themselves or choose to live independantly from society that the media focuses on and for that there's not much any organization or individual can do for them. A lot of them are violent and because of that civic groups help them from a distance by offering these soup lines.

It's a tough life but for those who choose to live that way, society doesn't owe them a nickle. But for those who did not choose to live in a life of poverty, our government, churches, civic groups, and other charitable organizations and individuals are there to help them. I wish our newspapers would focus on these groups and people who deserve an appreciative nod when they're out there on the front lines helping those who cannot help themselves. That appreciation goes a long way for them and they do it unselfishly.

Eh Miulang, the coffee is from Unique Coffee Roasters Vanilla Nut-New York City Roast with 100% Colombian Supremo beans with sharp nut flavor enchanced (yes enchanced) with sweet warm vanilla notes. That's verbatim right off the label. www.uniquecoffeeroasters.com Staten Island, NY

As Austin Powers said, "Kinda has a nutty flavor to it doesn't it?" Hmmm I think UCR should consider changing the description a bit.

[Glen Miyashiro]

Not all homeless people have no homes, either. My aunty (now deceased) had schizophrenia and although she had a place to live at a care home, back in the 1980s my dad would get calls several times a year from aunty's social worker saying, "please go get your sister, she's at 'A'ala Park and won't go home". What can you do, you can't lock them up and prevent them from leaving. :(

[Albert]

No comment.

[craigwatanabe]

that was one

[1stwahine]

Hawaii's Homeless...the recent evictions of several Homeless People from Wahiawa and Ewa Beach this past week hit home for me. After my husband passed away, my children and I became Homeless by choice. We didn't want to stay with any relatives for we wanted to be by ourselves as we were in mourning. Luckily, for us there was at that time The Kokea Family Shelter for Women and Children. It was like any apartment complex so we had our privacy. We paid rent according to what our income was. We finally got into housing at MWH...a total different LIFE STYLE to what we had when he was alive. Many in Hawai'i are just a paycheck away or due to an unexpected illness,accident that can occur. No one is safe.

Then there are those who just don't want to better themselves cause why should they. They recieve benefits, get free food at IHS or River of Life, Churches, etc. Free medical, dental and a bed if they want at IHS (if they make it by 9:00 pm. The women's shelter, if you get there late, SORRY, you can't get in cause NO BEDS! So they sleep on the street and become victims to rape, beatings and the like.

Aala Park is once again looking like it was when FASI was in office. Remember the big tent they had there? Take a drive and see for yourself, how bad it is. They even are starting to hang their washed clothes with strings or on the fences.

If they keep evicting the Homeless, where does the Homeless go? Ala Moana Park and Kewalo Basin area is full. There has been several murders as well. Are they in your neighborhood? What do we do? What can we do?

[Albert]

"If they keep evicting the Homeless, where does the Homeless go?"

Well, exactly. This latest eviction from the Ewa Beach area means, reportedly, 100-150 people will have to find somewhere else to sleep.

So we can have another "marina and resort". Just what Oahu needs.

[alohabear]

I personally think that rather than spending the money to keep homeless people off the streets and beaches, the State and counties use that money to set up social service programs to help these people find the health care, educational and housing resources they need to be able to become productive citizens again. Hiding or denying the problem of homeless people doesn't mean the problem is going to go away.
On payday do you go to the bank.... cash your check...then go on the street and give it to all the homeless who need it? No? Why not? That's what you're asking goverment to do. Think About it.

You should help yourself before asking others to help you.

[1stwahine]

You should help yourself before asking others to help you.


Many don't want the HELP! Remember the guy with the shopping cart that was found dead with thousands of dollars in it? Then there are those whose welfare benefits stopped due to the State's Limitations. Even those with children. There have been many programs that was and still is available for them to learn a skill and become productive again. One such program was WORK HAWAI'I!

There are many bad to good stories. The problem nowadays, it's good to bad.

The question still remains...Where do the HOMELESS go when their being evicted? Aala park is in my neighborhood. The Bus Stop across the street, Tong Fat Building has benches for Bus Riders. You can go there 24/7 and there's no riders sitting on it but HOMELESS PEOPLE with their bottles of Liqour, bottles of Beer in brown paper packages and at night...in the back of FHB they smoke CRACK COCAINE or ICE!

yEP, I feel for the HOMELESS to certain degrees. I also know what type of Homeless individual I feel sorry for, and that is wrong of me. However, I don't just think or wonder how I can help the issue. I donate clothes, have upon many occasions fed the Homeless and most of all I keep them in my PRAYERS!

No one is too far gone to be treated or looked down upon because they hit rock bottom. We are all human beings and the richest gift for us all is to help our brothers and sisters in need. I know, I was one of them! :rolleyes:

[alohabear]

For thoses of you who said "you were one of them " ....what did you do personally to get out? You made an effort to help yourself ....better yourself and I applaud you. I feel if everyone worked together a solution can be found. We all seem to rally together when something like a tsunami in another country leaves non-americans homeless, but what about our country? Does the world rally to help our people? Does corporate america give millions for american homeless? Do actors hold telethons for american homeless? Maybe if American took care of ourselves first, everyone would have a place to live.

[1stwahine]

Maybe if American took care of ourselves first, everyone would have a place to live.

Good Morning Alohabear! Like I said before, there are many different situations, circumstances that can put anyone on the streets without WARNING.

In my case, after my husband of twenty years died, I suffered a stroke (CVA) two weeks after burying him. My teenage children became the ones who cared for me and took care of the whole shabang! My son applied for Housing and became the youngest to be a Head of Household the.

When my husband was alive, we had everything and then some. The funds and way of life that we knew, quickly changed. Instead of self-pity and blaming...my children and I, in my wheelchair, didn't give up the fight! It has to come from the HEART for if it doesn't, it will never work

This morning's news said POLICE will be going to five Beaches to evict The Homeless. I watched as a mother spoke on how they're being treated as criminals. She had no where to go...she also said, "They should just put us in one warehouse, at least we would have a roof "

So my question remains, Where do you think their going? Mountains and hide in caves? I think not. These are fellow citizen's of the State of Hawai'i. So, we should take care of our OWN

[alohabear]

i WOULD GIVE THEM A BEACH... IT KEEPS THEM OFF THE STREETS AND GIVES THEM A "NEIGHBORHOOD". ALSO THIS COMMUNITY SAN HAVE THIER OWN NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD AND RIGHTS TO SERVICE. :)

[808blogger]

So my question remains, Where do you think their going? Mountains and hide in caves? I think not. These are fellow citizen's of the State of Hawai'i. So, we should take care of our OWN

hmmmmm
seems to me maybe they should take care of themselves....If they cannot .... possibly the state hospital?
Many of the homless on the street in honolulu are not "with it" do these people even belong on the streets. The liberalism of our society has led people to believe the its ok to live on public property. This is wrong. I cannot setup a house at kapiolani park. Why should people be allowed to live on the street?
It has become non P/C to commit people to a hospital that cannot take care of themselves. so the budget for the state hostpital is no longer adequate... meanwhile lots of ridiculous failing social programs get funnded up the "behind" (for nice word). ever been behind someone in safeway that drops $80 bucks on his EBT card in groceries and then busts out his/her cash to pay for another $80 worth of booze? I am sure you have! we have all seen this happen many times....
This is the bottom line of the homeless problem, MANY of these people on the streets belong in a hospital PERIOD......
the rest of them LAME get a life....
its not the states job to take care of those that are lazy... get a job, hell get two jobs...
sometimes in life things are hard and we have to do things we dont want to to TOUGH LUCK... DONT LIVE on public property. Now I understand that there are times in every family/persons life when things get rough and those people are not what is at discussion here. It is the HABITUALLY HOMLESS. they are a different class of people. All i see in here is people looking around and blaming govt and themselves... "what can we do to help? " " take care of our own" BAH!!!
where have individual responsibilities gone? out the window. a society of gimme, a society of BUMS......
I say to these people get a JOB and GET A LIFE.. shut up and get of off public property....
and honolulu is not mean to the homeless ... Infact honolulu is very nice to homeless, they live for free in the parks , beaches and streets without any intervention (except for the few mentioned in earlier posts)......

[Albert]

"its not the states job to take care of those ... "

You are totally illogical. You say put them in a State Hospital. Errr, who do you think pays for that? (Look in the mirror.)

It's bizarre. There was a covered bus stop across from the State Library (and Honolulu Hale) where usually three or four men slept each night. So they removed the entire structure, meaning everyone else has to wait in the rain for a bus. Just to get rid of a few homeless people.

[808blogger]

"its not the states job to take care of those ... "

You are totally illogical. You say put them in a State Hospital. Errr, who do you think pays for that? (Look in the mirror.)


The mentally insane need to be in a state hospital (yes paid for by us)
but it is not the states job to take care of the LAZY BUMS that are homeless.
That is my point.... cut back on WELFARE and divert the funds back to the underfunded state hospital... (hence my story about the ebt alcoholic). I have no sympathy for able bodied homeless people.

[Albert]

"So they removed the entire structure ... "

Ah, there is construction work going on at that bus stop, started Wednesday.

New luxury housing for the homeless?

[pzarquon]

Albert: How long until the island-wide raids push enough people back to Aala Park that folks will be talking "tent city" again?

808: There are many homeless people who have full time jobs, raise their kids well and send them to school, have nothing to do with drugs or crime, but simply found themselves out on the street by cruel twist of fate - unpredictable landlord, unexpected medical bill, domestic violence...

Are you saying these "able-bodied homeless," deserve no sympathy? That only worthwhile homeless person is sick?

There are some folks out there homeless by choice. Some may be criminals, addicts, lazy bums. Some are all three! :) But with housing and rental prices the way they are, and the way all people - not just stupid people - often find themselves less than one paycheck away from the streets, it is quite possible to be a productive member of society and still be unable to afford housing.

I'd suggest you reconsider grouping all homeless in with the vagrant storing thirty full shopping carts of "treasure" under the freeway overpass.

[Albert]

"Albert: How long until the island-wide raids push enough people back to Aala Park that folks will be talking "tent city" again?"

I'd love to see a mass protest by the homeless, set up tents on the lawn around Honolulu Hale.

Won't happen. The homeless, for the most part, just want to be left alone, aren't much interested in organized protest.

[1stwahine]

"Albert: How long until the island-wide raids push enough people back to Aala Park that folks will be talking "tent city" again?"

I'd love to see a mass protest by the homeless, set up tents on the lawn around Honolulu Hale.

Won't happen. The homeless, for the most part, just want to be left alone, aren't much interested in organized protest.

Wanna bet? The parents who are "still" productive citizens will eventually get organized. For some, stupid decisions, medical or unexpected events occurred...it didn't take away being a parent and that is to protect one's child/children. Yes, EBT Alcoholics, Druggies, and just plain lazy "BUMS" or being all three as you say is getting higher and can be seen in clusters all over the island. Take a look at River of Life on Pauahi Street during Chow time. All kinds in line. The same people...the silent community of Chinatown.
Take a ride or if you dare, walk around the area during the day or night and you will find one of them sleeping in a doorway of a closed down establishment. Some, at a Bus Stop. Still, others spralled out anywhere they can. Aala Park doesn't need a Tent City, it's become standard to see green and blue tarps over shopping carts full of their belongings.

Where's the kids in all this craziness? With family or at another beach or place that was not raided by Police. Still attending school that they were registered in? Or excused due to their circumstance of being homeless and evicted by the State...that is supposed to protect them? CPS gets involved? Problem is can't find the kids. No address. Always moving. Homeless. Find them at school...no can go, too far, DROP OUT! The cycle begins again. :confused:

[Albert]

Well, the photo that launched this thread may have been surpassed. See the last picture at http://starbulletin.com/2005/03/22/news/wild.html

I've known this man for more than seven years, can't imagine why he has suddenly not only become a "shopping cart person" but a real champion at it.

[68-eldo]

It’s not often I wander into this neck of the cyber woods, however I found this thread interesting and thought I would put in my two cents.

Its been said that there are probably as many reasons for homelessness as there are homeless people. That would mean there is probably no one solution, it needs a case-by-case approach to the problem. Then there is no guarantee that would do the trick.

One has to wonder if the reason some people are so opposed to the homeless is because they know they themselves are only a couple of paychecks away from being there too and they want the government to put up guard rails to keep them from going over the edge.

You also have to wonder if the City’s meanness to the homeless isn’t a form of “tough love”. If you make it too easy on them then there will be more and more of them. Why should they change? If you make them uncomfortable maybe they will choose to be a member of the productive class.

If I was King of Oahu… Note a King is someone that issues an order and everyone jumps to obey or else. As opposed to the Governor, Mayor et al that submits a plan that all the politicians must get their fingerprints on and it becomes so diluted as to be ineffective or worse.

As I was saying, If I was King of Oahu I would allow the homeless (herein after called “the people”) to live in the parks under the following conditions:

All of the people must register. This is to keep the numbers at any one park to a manageable level. If there are too many some have to move to a different park. But all will be accommodated.

The tent city must be of to one side and look neat from the park and surrounding properties. Homeless have a stigma attached to them and visitors to the park wont walk through the center of a tent city or even along the edges. So the tent city must be out of the way. A woven palm frond fence would also give them privacy and hide the “stuff” the people bring.

The people are responsible for the appearance of the park. They have to pick up all the rubbish and get it to the collection point for the city crews to haul away. If they can mow the lawns and trim the trees all the better, they get extra brownie points for that. Our City crews are working hard and are under staffed so there are a lot of problems at the parks, this will help out.

The people are responsible for the security of the parks. Too many cars get broken into or the restrooms get vandalized and the whole tent city gets evicted. Woe unto the guy that gets caught breaking into a tourist’s car. “I saw it all Officer, this guy broke the window on the car and all these rocks fell off the cliff on the other side of the highway and smashed him, poor bugger.” It would be nice to extend the responsibility of security to the whole neighborhood.

But then that is kind of what is happening now. The residents in the area complain about the break ins and the like so the police evict the homeless from the park.

While I am sure that a lot of people will shoot holes in my idea, I did not see anybody else put forward any kind of plan. If you have a better one lets hear it.

The idea that they should just get off their butt and get a job just doesn’t get it. My idea at least lets them live with some dignity and makes them somewhat useful in maintaining the parks, something the City and State seems to be having a hard time with.

Anyway that’s my two cents worth.

Fire away.

[Miulang]

We have 2 "Tent Cities" up here that are self-governed by the residents and can be hosted by a church or other organization on their private property for periods up to 3 months at a time, per County ordinances. The residents of the tent cities are actually mostly working people who don't earn enough money to afford a roof over their heads. They are far more responsible than the regular homeless people who live in the street.

The Tent City "government" doesn't allow people with arrest records to be residents, doesn't allow alcohol or drug use and they are very conscious of the fact that a whole community is just waiting for them to screw up to give that community a reason to badmouth them; that's why they police their encampments and when they leave the area, they actually leave the place cleaner than when they first arrived.

They have not turned their backs on the hospitality of their hosts, who, for the most part, have been church groups who have a mission to help the poor and homeless. I think it's been a learning experience for the communities that have housed these Tent Cities because it has shed a different light on people who cannot afford permanent housing.

Not all homeless people are bums, and just because they don't have a permanent address doesn't mean that they are not good people.

Miulang

[Kü´ë]

So many more i see lately and thay always asking for money or someting. i think the ones in town stay different from da ones who stay on da beach. da ones in town more likely for buy drugs and be dirty li'dat. :eek:

[Miulang]

Finally a glimmer of hope for the homeless on Oahu: St. Francis Healthcare System might be turning the old First Hawaiian Bank Employees recreation center in Makaha into a homeless shelter (http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/4587233/detail.html). And this one won't look like low-income housing, either. It'll have all kinds of recreational amenities for the residents and keikis and could house up to about 50 people. And it's far enough away from Honolulu that it might help relocate some of the homeless from some of the beaches.

Wonder what the neighbors in Makaha will say about this plan? :rolleyes:

Miulang

[jdub]

Denizens of a homeless camp at the Waianae Boat Harbor have been notified of their impending eviction. They've been allowed to remain for 9 months. They're going to end up somewhere, shelter or no shelter. Those Makaha neighbors have a chance to show compassion by not fighting the proposed Saint Francis shelter, or to perpetuate the NIMBY mind-set that makes suburbs suburbs. It's going to be interesting. Maybe the fact that the shelter would be run by the Catholic church will help ease the justifiably worried minds of parents in the area about an increased presence of the indigent.

[poi cocktail :)]

gotta' have heart in depressing situations but watch out for the cons too yah. no one can say anything bad about the charity work the church does in situations like this.

[Menehune Man]

Both my wife and I work full-time jobs. Not large salary ones though and with the cost of housing, insurances, food and clothing, having raised kids and paying Federal/State taxes, we are "just keeping our heads above the water". We have neighbors that used to complain to us that they're not getting enough help, although they have all been on section 8 for years. They sit on their behinds while getting extras like car insurance paid, or help with moving expenses, etc. I lost it one day and said that "No one's helping us and they(The Government) take thousands of dollars every year from us, that don't have much, to give to people like you that aren't willing to earn your own way. They are not mentally ill, just lazy. I was laughed at and the reply was that they found out how to use the system. At least they don't try to get sympathy from me anymore. Now understand that I believe that there are people that can not make it on their own and we individually and corporately as a nation need to help, but I'm tired of being taken advantage of so badly. I can't even save up for my "rainy" day living from paycheck to paycheck.
Do you think that there will be another tax revolution?
Or how about the direction here in Hawai'i of the people willing to do the service jobs not being able to afford to live here and that only leaves the one's that can afford it but not willing to do "those" kinds of jobs? What's next?

[kimo55]

I lost it one day and said that "No one's helping us and they(The Government) take thousands of dollars every year from us, that don't have much, to give to people like you


doesn't sound like ya lost it.
sounds like ya found it.
"grew a couple" as it were...

[craigwatanabe]

Finally a glimmer of hope for the homeless on Oahu: St. Francis Healthcare System might be turning the old First Hawaiian Bank Employees recreation center in Makaha into a homeless shelter (http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/4587233/detail.html). And this one won't look like low-income housing, either. It'll have all kinds of recreational amenities for the residents and keikis and could house up to about 50 people. And it's far enough away from Honolulu that it might help relocate some of the homeless from some of the beaches.

Wonder what the neighbors in Makaha will say about this plan? :rolleyes:

Miulang

It's a shame that the rec center would be turned into a shelter. It's really a fantastic place and I know it'll turn that area into bad place. The rural lifestyle of those residents who live just below will hate it, I know.

The problem with most homeless is that they just want to be left alone. For what? It seems to be left alone to conduct illicit activity such as drugs as seen at many homeless sites around Oahu. They don't seem a bit interested in respecting the Aina. Look at Barber's Point. When the military left, the place turned into a slum with trash and evidence of vandalism all over the once pristine shorelines as well as the surrounding buildings. It seems the military had a better awareness of the land than those who now occupy it.

With the foresight of what can happen to Barber's Point one can only surmise the impact of putting the homeless at FHB's rec center.

[Miulang]

It's a shame that the rec center would be turned into a shelter. It's really a fantastic place and I know it'll turn that area into bad place. The rural lifestyle of those residents who live just below will hate it, I know.

The problem with most homeless is that they just want to be left alone. For what? It seems to be left alone to conduct illicit activity such as drugs as seen at many homeless sites around Oahu. They don't seem a bit interested in respecting the Aina. Look at Barber's Point. When the military left, the place turned into a slum with trash and evidence of vandalism all over the once pristine shorelines as well as the surrounding buildings. It seems the military had a better awareness of the land than those who now occupy it.

With the foresight of what can happen to Barber's Point one can only surmise the impact of putting the homeless at FHB's rec center.

I think this place might be different, simply because it'll be run by a private (albeit the Catholic Church) agency and not the State, and they should be able to enforce the rules about no drugs, etc. better than the State. What I know about the "tent cities" that we have in my area is the residents police themselves and if they find someone doing drugs or drinking alcohol in the camp, or if a new resident has committed a felony, the residents will call the cops because they know they have to behave themselves in order to break the stereotype of all homeless people being bums.

The center apparently will also have job training programs and counseling available. Many of the homeless people don't want to be homeless, they just fell behind in the rent payment. Many actually work at jobs, but what they bring in doesn't cover the high cost of rent. Except for the druggies and others who don't want to be helped, I think it's commendable that the Catholic Church wants to help some decent but down-on-their luck people to a better life. I'd rather see those people try to earn a decent living so they can become productive citizens rather than let them give up hope entirely of ever leading decent lives and forever leech off the state.

Miulang

[Pedro]

I seen how bad it is with the homeless. My Uncle a Catholic priest give's food out to the needy and one day I got to see first hand how bad it truely was. I mean the people were like a pack of wolves when the food was given and than they complained that it was too little for them to survive on and I guess they wanted more, so they started to harras the people giving them food and argue. I know life is hard around but life is what you make of it. Some of the people I know didn't choose to be in that predicament and I personally applaud those who got out of that bad life style.

I am sick of looking at my small paycheck or what's left of it when all the bills eat away at it and hear some of my friends who survive on Well Fair complain about how bad their life is, when all they do is sit around and mope "POOR ME" and they have EBT cards and wellfair is paying for their house electricity and car insuriance.

I paid for everything I have and it's a blessing I am still above water living pay check to pay check. But at time's I do try to help out people by giving a dollar or two to people with signs saying they are poor. One day I was hanging with my friends and I told them what I do to help out and they laughed at my idea they told me not to give them any more money because I am only funding their drug and bear money. and I think they are right. What is to be done with the growing population of homeless people? I mean shelters and churches helping out the needy are great but it will only make them dependable to society rather than independant.

On a further notice I want to see them leading decent live's making something of theirselves, becoming a contributing citizen of society. We all have that GOD GIVEN RIGHT. :)

[craigwatanabe]

I too served in soup lines only to have a homeless person spit in my face or worse, directly in the food trays! They tell me, "You don't know what it's like to be out in the streets".

How do you respond to that one? Of course I don't know but heck I'm here to help! What I did learn that day was that at least life in a home taught me an appreciation for a hot meal.

So you wipe your face clean, replace the food tray and politely ask, "would you like some rice with that?" and go on to the next sour face with another insult to your integrity.

I've learned in life that you get what you put into it. I worked hard to get to where I'm at now, retired at age 45 and living well. I've paid my dues to the needy doing volunteer work, contributing to AUW, even going so far as to give my lunch to a homeless person sitting outside my workplace in Kakaako.

Some of the homeless tell me they just want to be left alone. They just want to exist but not work hard for the simple things we take for granted like a hot shower and a warm bed to sleep in. They complain yet they do nothing to better their lives.

So why do I always give a couple of Twenty dollar bills to some barefoot guy hunched over in his tattered shirt? Because he needs it. I don't wait for him to ask, I just go over to him and tell him, "Please take this" and I quickly walk away before they can rant about not being a charity case.

I do this because one day it could be me out on the streets and I hope to God that someone will do unto me as I have done unto them and spare me the humility of begging.

Dispensing charity to the homeless is like trying to give a child their medicine. They kick and buck and resist like hell but you know it's for their own good and you keep on dishing it out. It's not your ego you're trying to save...it's their lives and every life on this planet is a gift from God and we should treat them as such. We owe it to humanity to take care of our weak and our poor for it could very well happen to any one of us.

[Miulang]

Amen to that, Craig. Many of us are one or two paychecks away from that precarious existence. The ones who panhandle just for money more than likely are the ones who just want drug, booze or cigarette money. The ones who say they want to be left alone probably have mental health issues. And yes, sometimes when you think you're helping out the person (by giving food rather than cash), that person will "reward" you by berating your act of charity. That's when you know that that person is an addict.

One time we saw this guy sitting on the sidewalk of a hamburger joint we went to, so besides our food, we got him a hot meal and coffee. He wasn't begging or anything, but when he got the food, he called over one of his buddies and shared his meal with that person.

I believe that if you give of your time or your money with no ulterior motive other than to help someone down on their luck, that you are rewarded threefold for your act of kindness.

Miulang

[kimo55]

I too served in soup lines only to have a homeless person spit in my face or worse, directly in the food trays! They tell me, "You don't know what it's like to be out in the streets".

How do you respond to that one?


ya say
"chuck you, farley, I'm outta here". race to the nearest shower, then go home to watch football with yer buddies.

[kimo55]

So why do I always give a couple of Twenty dollar bills to some barefoot guy hunched over in his tattered shirt? Because he needs it.

I do this because one day it could be me out on the streets and I hope to God that someone will do unto me as I have done unto them



...you don't give money beCAUSE he needs it. You are buying insurance in case YOU end up in his position.


and spare me the humility of begging.

But you don't want to do something to spare yourself the humility of being homeless?

[kimohalliway]

Fire away.[/QUOTE]

A coordinated clean sweep effort needs to be done, starting with the Mayor, the police and the communities. The Mayor needs to get creative or have the homeless situation get out of hand. Combined with the police department or an off shoot committee, determine who is "homeless by circumstances" and who is mentally disturbed. Loitering laws have to be strictly enforced. A tent city prison maybe.

The folks who are homeless by circumstance will be corralled and put into the Aloha Stadium. (or other H.S. fields) They will all be given jobs, whether it be manning a booth at the Swap Meet, cleaning the stadium, or running concession stands during events. All for no pay. This is their trade for having somewhere safe to sleep. If you Don't report to your job they kick you out. Subjecting you to the newly strictly enforced loitering laws.

I saw a woman live under the Piikoi bridge for over 6 months before anyone did anything about her.

[Miulang]

The State needs to do a much better job of keeping tabs (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jul/03/ln/ln04p.html) of the kids that have been placed in foster care. According to this Advertiser article, there were at least 38 kids in foster home placement who cannot be accounted for. Presumably they are all runaways, which probably means they are living on the street and in physical danger.

I am amazed that the state laws don't allow for Maile alerts to be put out immediately when a foster child runs away. If the DHS doesn't have the staff or funding to keep track of the kids entrusted to their care, why can't the State allow the press and private citizens to kokua right away? Does it take having one of these kids ending up being murdered on the street before the community is allowed to act? :mad:

This fact is really appalling: "...On O'ahu, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of the missing children, no special effort is made by police to find them. Once they run away, they are part of the 1,000 runaway children the Honolulu Police Department's Juvenile Services Division investigates annually. And it's a daunting task: HPD has five officers assigned to the runaway detail..."

I really hope the citizens of the State can pressure the Legislature to change laws regarding public notification of runaways. I really hope there are no more "Peter Boy" incidents. Every kid, no matter how pilau their attitude, deserves a chance at having a secure home and a proper education. I think the State is failing in that regard with the current DHS rules that are in place.

Miulang

P.S. One reason why Amber (Maile) alerts to the public are valuable is because Shasta Groene, the little girl who was kidnapped along with her brother Dylan in Idaho, was saved because her picture was plastered all over the place. She was missing for 6 weeks (and her brother is still missing and presumed dead), but some alert people who had seen the Amber alert pictures called police. She was being held captive by a registered child predator.

[dee_diddy]

I might have a little controversial view on the whole homless problem. This is how I see it. If you can beg for money, you can beg for a job. I hope this doesn't offend anyone.

[kimo55]

I might have a little controversial view on the whole homless problem. This is how I see it. If you can beg for money, you can beg for a job. I hope this doesn't offend anyone.
that apology is offensive to those that don't subscribe to the very hypersensitive politically correct view of everything nowadays, where ya haveta walk on eggshells and learn of this month's P.C. label for each race, all genders, social strata, etc that change more often than the wind...



Ya know, the hopeless don't NEED to work, when they can earn MORE than minimum wage just panhandling!

[Miulang]

Ya know, the hopleless don't NEED to work, when they can earn MORE than minimum wage just panhandling!
They're not the hopeless ones. The ones who panhandle for a living and make no attempt to get a job are leeches on society. Some of them aren't even homeless; they're just lazy bums who know that people always feel sorry for people holding up signs saying they're homeless and penniless and that they can make as much (or more) money standing at the bottom of a freeway exit ramp or street corner than they can at a minimum-wage job. Whenever I feel charitable, I always tell these people I don't have any money to give them, but if they want some food to eat, I'll gladly buy them a meal.

When I worked for Oxfam-America in Boston raising money for projects overseas, we worked hard not to put pictures of starving babies in our campaign literature. It would have been easy to raise passels of money that way (we are almost as charitable as the Brits), but we felt it was demeaning to the people we were trying to help to perpetuate the myth that these people had no pride and were depressed all the time. Most of our brochures had pictures of smiling mothers and children from the Sahel in West Africa, Bangladesh or other places in the developing world. Even in the poorest, most economically depressed parts of the world, people still can smile, people still can be proud.

Miulang

[shaveice]

hope i'm not going off topic; have only read the last few posts. i'd just like to recommend a dvd available at diamond head video entitled "it was a wonderful life". amazon.com intro reads, "The 1992 documentary It Was a Wonderful Life won several awards for its depiction of homeless women--the "hidden homeless" who don't sit on the streets and beg for change, but who live in motels and cars, often with children, while they desperately try to set their lives right. Several of the movie's subjects were left helpless from a bad divorce; one woman, a former singer, was abandoned by her affluent husband while pregnant with his sixth child. He now avoids paying child support, trusting in an over-loaded bureaucracy with limited power to enforce the law. It Was a Wonderful Life isn't the most artfully made documentary, but after listening to the revealing stories of these women--all struggling but determined to survive--you'll find yourself sizing up your own life, wondering if a brief illness or a lost job could steal your own life away. Narrated by Jodie Foster with music by Melissa Etheridge. --Bret Fetzer"

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00016XNI4/qid%3D1120470656/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-5808946-4636169

well worth watching. highly recommended. it will, i believe, broaden your perspective on the subject.

[hoku]

I agree that most of the homeless people choose to be homeless because 99 percent of all homeless get family that is and was willing to take them in IF THEY GIVE UP THE DRUGS and because they can not kick they own habit they choose to live on the beach (hell why not free water at the bathroom) no electricity bills and best of all free food stamps so life is good for them they eat like kings and queens, the only one I feel sorry for is the kids that have to suffer because they parents choose to live this way.

oh and by the way I am from Waianae and I hate when I see these so called homeless people in WAIANAE store or TAMURA'S shopping with food stamps but get on 24mm hawaiian gold bracelet on each arm come on now how are we suppose to feel sorry that. I no tink sooooooooo.

[Pedro]

Me I hate it when I hear people grumbling about money problems and their using their EBT cards buying up all the fresh produce and little ol me can only afford not even half of what they buy on a regular paycheck to paycheck job. Poor me I wish I was rich Back to my Cup O Noodles.

[craigwatanabe]

...you don't give money beCAUSE he needs it. You are buying insurance in case YOU end up in his position.

I give because on the day it happens to me at least God will know that at some point in my life I did show compassion to another human being. Call it insurance if you like, I call it being compassionate.


But you don't want to do something to spare yourself the humility of being homeless?

I do a lot to spare myself of being homeless. The fact that I am a homeowner with no mortage tied to it is proof that I am doing something about it. I used to be one paycheck from being homeless as most of us typically are but won't do anything about.

The key phrase is, "used to be". But now that I have put myself many paychecks away from homelessness I don't forget those who are so I give to them as a reminder that it could be me one day. It's hard enough for me to ask a favor from somebody but if it's for my family I'll do whatever it takes to put food on the table for them. Hopefully there are still compassionate people out there who can feel the way I do so the act of begging isn't so demoralizing...I try to be one of those people.

I do believe in bachi...what goes around, comes around.

[1stwahine]

Craig, applause to you! You are a special man to have the compassion and human kindness to those who are less fortunate. If everybody thought that there would be less hate in the world. Bravo!

Lynn
a former homeless mother of three!
and a mom of three soldiers to boot!

[craigwatanabe]

I grew up in Waialae Kahala in the 60's and 70's surrounded by high maka maka pilau buggahs who only thought of themselves and their investments and screw the homeless. Their actions for the homeless was to kick them out of Kahala Beach!

I grew up as an adult in the 80's as a typical yuppie thinking the world is my silver platter so better serve me up a bit of high life and it did.

All that changed one day when I saw this old Japanese lady sitting in front of my working place. I was coming back from a local diner picking up my phone order for lunch when I saw her sitting on the curb. I saw her before but I thought she was just waiting for a ride but there she was in the same clothes in the same spot.

I walked up to her and asked her if she was okay. Her eyes told the whole story before she even uttered a single word. She was homeless and didn't know what to do about it and she was very tired and hungry.

Apparently she was happily married with no children living in a modest home in town. She never worked and her husband paid all the bills and took care of all the credit cards. He died quite suddenly and she used whatever was in their savings account to pay for the funeral assuming the life insurance would reimburse her once the claim went thru.

It never did because he never had any. He also never had any mortgage insurance so she lost their home of many years. She had no credit history because she never worked and all the cards were under his name. Their cars were reposessed, so were the furnishings and then the home itself.

Suddenly this small Japanese woman who could have been anyone's grandmother living in nice home was kicked out onto the streets with no way of determining what to do because her husband did everything for them, and now he's gone.

She had no money, no personal belongings, no credit history, nothing. She was homeless.

I was a young 25-year old and after seeing her plight I realized she needed help right away. I took her into our lunch room and gave her my lunch and bought her a soda while she told me about her life and her dispair. I knew what happened to her could happen to a lot of us and I needed to think about shoring up my assets to prevent me from getting to that point. I ended up giving her everything I had in my wallet (about $80 bucks) and put her on a cab to my local church where the pastor there could direct her to social services thru the church or the state.

It was all I could do as a young guy with no savings of my own. But her life was the seed that changed my self-centered ways and from that day on I developed a game plan to live a more humble life with compassion to others and also to make sure I had a long term plan to ensure a strong and successful future.

Imagine that, a homeless person taught me the values of humanity. Her suffering didn't go in vain because it helped me and my family weather the financial strains that hit us in years to come. her story also helped me help others, and by helping them it kept me sincere and focused on the necessities in life not the wants. :)

[1stwahine]

Craig, I never expected such a touching and teary eyed story. I am crying because I was exactly like that lady...not Japanese, not old. I too lost everything. It was when I was down that I rose to become who I am today! Thank you for sharing.

Lynn

Gosh, it's already 6:24 pm. I haven't started my blog yet. :D I better get going! Talk stories laters!

[craigwatanabe]

My motto in life is taken from that old Beatles song: Obla Dee Obla Da...Life goes on Brah! By the way that phrase is also on my Reader's Digest Organ Donor Card cuz I felt it was befitting.

Thru faith and perserverance we all can be touched by the grace of God, if only we are willing, be of service to your fellow man and your life will be blessed. These are the truths that guide my life and that I teach to my children.

[shaveice]

hey craig, thanks for sharing a moving story.

by the way, i'd like to plug that movie/dvd again cuz what you described is so very much like the stories of the 7 women in "it was a wonderful life". there's nothing like really talking to someone who's struggling with the homeless issue but this documentary will have a similar effect on those who watch it. it will broaden your perspective on women who find themselves without a home and hopefully make you a more compassionate person.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00016XNI4/qid%3D1120470656/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-5808946-4636169

by the way craig, any info on what happened to that old woman?

[cezanne]

My wife is like that. She'll buy an extra meal at the drive through for someone she saw using a bus stop (not intending to catch the bus). She's a very kind-hearted person who's thankful for what we have.

[Pedro]

I grew up in Waialae Kahala in the 60's and 70's surrounded by high maka maka pilau buggahs who only thought of themselves and their investments and screw the homeless. Their actions for the homeless was to kick them out of Kahala Beach!

I grew up as an adult in the 80's as a typical yuppie thinking the world is my silver platter so better serve me up a bit of high life and it did.

All that changed one day when I saw this old Japanese lady sitting in front of my working place. I was coming back from a local diner picking up my phone order for lunch when I saw her sitting on the curb. I saw her before but I thought she was just waiting for a ride but there she was in the same clothes in the same spot.

I walked up to her and asked her if she was okay. Her eyes told the whole story before she even uttered a single word. She was homeless and didn't know what to do about it and she was very tired and hungry.

Apparently she was happily married with no children living in a modest home in town. She never worked and her husband paid all the bills and took care of all the credit cards. He died quite suddenly and she used whatever was in their savings account to pay for the funeral assuming the life insurance would reimburse her once the claim went thru.

It never did because he never had any. He also never had any mortgage insurance so she lost their home of many years. She had no credit history because she never worked and all the cards were under his name. Their cars were reposessed, so were the furnishings and then the home itself.

Suddenly this small Japanese woman who could have been anyone's grandmother living in nice home was kicked out onto the streets with no way of determining what to do because her husband did everything for them, and now he's gone.

She had no money, no personal belongings, no credit history, nothing. She was homeless.

I was a young 25-year old and after seeing her plight I realized she needed help right away. I took her into our lunch room and gave her my lunch and bought her a soda while she told me about her life and her dispair. I knew what happened to her could happen to a lot of us and I needed to think about shoring up my assets to prevent me from getting to that point. I ended up giving her everything I had in my wallet (about $80 bucks) and put her on a cab to my local church where the pastor there could direct her to social services thru the church or the state.

It was all I could do as a young guy with no savings of my own. But her life was the seed that changed my self-centered ways and from that day on I developed a game plan to live a more humble life with compassion to others and also to make sure I had a long term plan to ensure a strong and successful future.

Imagine that, a homeless person taught me the values of humanity. Her suffering didn't go in vain because it helped me and my family weather the financial strains that hit us in years to come. her story also helped me help others, and by helping them it kept me sincere and focused on the necessities in life not the wants. :)

Wow that sure was a touching story. At least you did the right thing at the time, and hey it's taught you a valuable lesson too, and that's to be thankful for what you have even if it isn't much. :)

[Miulang]

Yeah, and I believe Mahatma Ghandi was the one who said something like, "even if you have only a little, give what you don't need away, because if you don't, it will get taken away from you anyway."

Miulang

[craigwatanabe]

Miulang, that's pretty ironic because I believe that if you give away something you never needed it's like giving away your undesirables. To me if you give something it should be something of value...something you'd want to keep if it were for yourself. It's like how we fish in these islands. If your catch was bountiful, you give away your biggest catch to your neighbor, not the manini stuff you'd have used for bait.

But I still do appreciate the coffee grinder :D as a matter of fact I used it this morning for my first cup. :)

[Tiger Beer]

When it comes to the treatment of homeless people, Honolulu has been named one of the top ten "meanest cities" and the state of Hawaii named the third "meanest state," according to the National Coalition for the Homeless... This year, Honolulu ranked ninth (of 179 communities surveyed)... Honolulu was ranked 19th in 2003 (of 140 surveyed), and one of the 12 "meanest cities" (of 80 surveyed) in 2002.
If thats true.. thats good.

One of the things I HATED about living in San Francisco is the people are so tolerant of things like that. Then more and more homeless people hear about it, and they seem to come from far far far away to take advantage of the system there. I think they were giving some ridicious amount of cash each month to those who applied through the right channels of their homelessness in San Francisco. The homeless problem was really out of control.

I often went to the library in SF.. and so many homeless there.. many would just have casual conversations comparing what cities were better or worse to be homeless in and such.. like a community. (Of course other homeless are downright mentally ill - but some seem to choose it as a lifestyle choice).

For quite awhile now, I've been living in Korea off and on. A homeless problem doesn't seem to really exist here.. well, homelessness exists.. but the Korean people have no interest/toleration in giving $ to beggars... so no one is begging. They'll do something creative like open a small restaurant on the street or sell stuff or re-make keys.. or do something simple.

The mainland obsession with this 'must give them as much free stuff as possible and services' mindset.. seems to encourage the thinking of homelessness as a lifestyle among a very small (yet highly visible) part of the population.

For those who really don't want to be homeless, you'd think they'd have enough family to help them out if a real tough time happened that could force it on someone.

[Miulang]

For those who really don't want to be homeless, you'd think they'd have enough family to help them out if a real tough time happened that could force it on someone.
There are lots of mentally ill people who are homeless in Hawai'i, but there are also many "working homeless"...people who go out and work everyday but who can't afford rent. They would love it if they could find housing they could afford. When you live in a high-cost state like Hawai'i, you can rely on your family, yes, but sometimes if you're too proud to ask for help, you have to sleep in a broken down car in order to have enough money to buy food. The sad equation for many people is housing v. food. It's a good thing Hawai'i has such a temperate climate (no freezing winters) so living in one's car can be an option.

To the casual observer, all homeless people are bums or characters of ill-repute. But if you get to know some of these people, they all have unique situations that led them to become homeless. In fact, there are many hard working people in Hawai'i who might be one or two paychecks away from being homeless. And it's not because they don't work hard...some may have to work two or three jobs themselves in order to afford both food and housing.

If you ever move to Hawai'i, you will understand the situation better.

Miulang

[Tiger Beer]

Thats true.. they are all different.

Actually I use to have a lot of tolerance for homeless.. but San Francisco really exhausted it.

When I lived in NYC, I'd talk to them more and really didn't mind at all. In SF, they are so aggressive.. they just demand you give money.. and a few times had them tell me they'll protect me and I had to give them money or something weird, or make aggressive comments if you walk by without giving change - and how can you when places like Market Street or downtown SF just feels like a stream of homeless people - like 20 or more per block in those areas.

In all honestly.. when I was in Honolulu recently.. and the homeless were cool. They didn't ask for money.. didn't bother anyone.. just really actually GOOD people.

I think different places are quite a bit different. San Francisco, literally once I had 4 people come off the streets and beg for money from me while I was eating in a fast food restaurant. FOUR people while eating.. then you step out of there.. and constant stream of them asking.. and not just a 'woe is me' story.. but demanding from you. Its really different.

I was shocked in Honolulu to see how cool they were. Actually talked to one homeless guy for 3-4 minutes and I was so anxious to stop the conversation.. as I knew I'd be hit up for cash any second.. and then followed and asked for more.. what a shock when he just said 'enjoy hawaii' and didn't start the rest of the familiar routine that I'm so familiar with while living in SF.

So anyhow.. as there isn't a homeless-fatigue from locals in Hawaii there.. then its definetely worlds away from San Francisco's chronic homeless problem - an equally expensive place to live. I was never asked once for change anywhere in Hawaii.. what a shock.

[Miulang]

So anyhow.. as there isn't a homeless-fatigue from locals in Hawaii there.. then its definetely worlds away from San Francisco's chronic homeless problem - an equally expensive place to live. I was never asked once for change anywhere in Hawaii.. what a shock.
A lot of it may have to do with the cultures of Hawai'i. Asians don't like to bother anyone (see the earlier story in this thread told by Craig about the old Japanese lady).

Drug addicts and people from the Mainland would be more aggressive about panhandling than the locals. They're usually too proud or embarrassed to ask for help. Most of them are the "hidden homeless."

Miulang

[Miulang]

Thats true.. they are all different.

Actually I use to have a lot of tolerance for homeless.. but San Francisco really exhausted it....

In SF, they are so aggressive.. they just demand you give money.. and a few times had them tell me they'll protect me and I had to give them money or something weird, or make aggressive comments if you walk by without giving change - and how can you when places like Market Street or downtown SF just feels like a stream of homeless people - like 20 or more per block in those areas..
I dunno about the aggressive panhandlers in SF. I was just down there over the New Year's weekend. Granted, it was pouring buckets. But we stayed at a little boutique hotel off Union Sq. on Geary St. and walked all over the Union Sq. area and Market St., SOMA, Chinatown, Fishermen's Wharf, Embarcadero, Japantown, etc. Never had one person try to panhandle us. (Maybe they were all sleeping off their New Year's Eve hangovers :eek: )

Somebody once told me that if you don't walk around with your jaw hanging on the ground (as a gawking tourista would do) and you look like you know where you're going, panhandlers will leave you alone. Works for me every time, no matter which city I've been in, including Times Sq. NYC before Rudy cleaned it up.

And up here in Seattle, some of the panhandlers are so polite that when you tell them sorry, I don't have any spare change, they just smile and say "god bless you and have a good day."

Miulang

[Tiger Beer]

Yeah, I don't know what it was.

I worked at elections department at City Hall in San Francisco.. and for awhile lived in a really cheap hotel nearby.. so it was pretty much 24-7 homeless around all the time.

It was at its worse around evening and throughout the night. But some of the people that I worked with who lived in the suburbs and just came into the city at work and left again real quickly.. they had a lot more sympathy and such.

The other areas that you visited.. are all large tourist areas with tons of out-of-towners all the time.. and very expensive places to live in.. never really encountered that many homeless around those areas. More way up on Market Street around City Hall and the Public Library.. as well as down in the Mission and over on Haight Street and the Park. Of course the Tenderloin is the most notorious of them all.. and thats right where I was working all the time (and living for awhile as well). So I guess it depends a lot on where you are living in a city. Anyhow.. no wonder my memories of living in that city aren't that good.. :D

During Rudy's days in NYC were great though.. I was even living in Washington Heights (most notorious for crime and drugs in Manhattan).. and I was never even closely annoyed/bothered as I was living near that Tenderloin district of San Francisco.

[Miulang]

During Rudy's days in NYC were great though.. I was even living in Washington Heights (most notorious for crime and drugs in Manhattan).. and I was never even closely annoyed/bothered as I was living near that Tenderloin district of San Francisco.
When I was younger and stupider, I'd walk into Harlem and down by the East River by myself all the time (ignorance and youth being blissful?). I'd walk in Times Sq. at night, having taken the bus down from up near West Point. I'd take the bus and subway up to the Cloisters (one of my fave spots in NY). Only once did I ever come close to being harassed. I was walking down by the East River and I saw this guy approach me. When he saw me, he started talking to me and walking next to me. Fortunately, I am not Caucasian, so I pretended I didn't understand what he was saying. He kept talking and walking with me until I spotted one of the Avenues. At that point, I screamed "F--- you!" And took off toward the crowds. I wish I had taken a picture of his startled expression...would have been priceless. :D

Miulang

[shaveice]

this guy has heart:

http://starbulletin.com/2005/08/07/news/index11.html

[namikikam]

These so called homeless people are a blight on our society and should be exterminated. End their useless lives. Bleeding hearts out there I think your mind would be totally changed after your daughter is raped by a homeless drug addict. My daughter was only 17 when she was forced into some bushes and raped. Ten years later, she is fine and moving forward and I am thankful for that. These homeless/druggies have many services available out there, however, they choose to wander around aimlessly, harassing and ripping good citizens off. I'm sorry, but I have had it! These people don't want to get better and what good is it to keep pandering to them. Sterilization and Elimination is the way to go.

[1stwahine]

Quite an interesting thread we have here to read in the morning! Makes me appreciate what I have today. ;)

1stwahine/Auntie Lynn

[AbsolutChaos]

Sorry, didn't think to post this earlier...

Wed they had a free showing of a new musical in honor of homelessness and homelessness week at the capitol building. The profits from the $20 musical CD entirely benefited the homelessness coalition or something like that.

I didn't know quite what to expect from a musical on homelessness, but I enjoyed it in the end. The little boy actor was quite good, and some of the songs were kinda catchy, though they had very simple lyrics and reminded me of other songs from other places . While much of the plot was quite predictable, the musical did a good job of making me rethink any cynical views I may have on all homeless people and urged me to not judge all homeless based on outer appearances. It also makes us think about how little we do as US citizens for the homeless and makes people perhaps reexamine why some homeless people may not go out of their way to seek help. It certainly reminded me again that ALL of us are one disaster away from homelessness ourselves! (Hurricane Katrina, anyone?)

Fri there was a candlelight vigil, also at the Capitol bldg; this year they even had the soup kitchen there so that homeless who wished to participate didn't have to choose between the vigil and getting food from their usual soup kitchen location.

ON NOVEMBER 16, there is a special CD release party for that same homelessness musical.

Here's a link to a Star Bulletin article on all of the events, including details on the CD release party.

http://starbulletin.com/2005/11/07/features/story01.html

[tutusue]

[...] The little boy actor was quite good, [...]Here's a link to a Star Bulletin article on all of the events, including details on the CD release party.

http://starbulletin.com/2005/11/07/features/story01.html
Thanks for the link. That's a great cast...all experienced theater people.

[sinjin]

These so called homeless people are a blight on our society and should be exterminated. End their useless lives. Bleeding hearts out there I think your mind would be totally changed after your daughter is raped by a homeless drug addict. My daughter was only 17 when she was forced into some bushes and raped. Ten years later, she is fine and moving forward and I am thankful for that. These homeless/druggies have many services available out there, however, they choose to wander around aimlessly, harassing and ripping good citizens off. I'm sorry, but I have had it! These people don't want to get better and what good is it to keep pandering to them. Sterilization and Elimination is the way to go.

The truly evil inhabit the same fringe as those otherwise good people that life has dealt a hard hand to play. While I'm sorry for your daughter and your pain as well, I would ask you to consider that many find themselves ill-equipped to break the cycle in which they find themselves. They deserve our charity and mercy.

[TurquoiseDuck]

These so called homeless people are a blight on our society and should be exterminated. End their useless lives. Bleeding hearts out there I think your mind would be totally changed after your daughter is raped by a homeless drug addict. My daughter was only 17 when she was forced into some bushes and raped. Ten years later, she is fine and moving forward and I am thankful for that. These homeless/druggies have many services available out there, however, they choose to wander around aimlessly, harassing and ripping good citizens off. I'm sorry, but I have had it! These people don't want to get better and what good is it to keep pandering to them. Sterilization and Elimination is the way to go.

I am truly sorry for what happened to your daughter. That being said....I would like to speak of the fact that not all homeless people abuse drugs and or alcohol. It is not fair to group all homeless people together and say that they should be sterilized and eliminated. "But for the grace of God, there go I." Think about that for a few moments.....if you would please. If circumstances beyond your control would cause you to become homeless, do you think it would be ok to sterilize and eliminate you ?

Yes there are services available to help people with drug and or alcohol addictons. However, you cannot help a person that does not want help. You cannot make a person quit abusing alcohol and or drugs if they do not have a desire to stop. Alcoholism/drug addiction is a progressive dis-ease....of the body, mind and spirit. Please try and hate the dis-ease, not the person that has it.

Some homeless people do work. Even if they could come up with enough money to rent a place, today it is hard to even get into a rental unit. I am speaking from first hand experience about that. (Not being homeless myself, just trying to rent a place to live recently) As many as 50 people apply to rent each unit. A landlord chooses the best applicant. Will a landlord choose a homeless person when the landlord could choose some one with an excellent credit rating, outstanding work record and impecable references ? Of course not.

You no more love in your heart and no more aloha for those unfortunate homeless people. May God bless you.

[tutusue]

I am truly sorry for what happened to your daughter. That being said....I would like to speak of the fact that not all homeless people abuse drugs and or alcohol. It is not fair to group all homeless people together and say that they should be sterilized and eliminated. "But for the grace of God, there go I." [...]
You took the words right out of my fingertips.
Yes there are services available to help people with drug and or alcohol addictons. However, you cannot help a person that does not want help. You cannot make a person quit abusing alcohol and or drugs if they do not have a desire to stop. Alcoholism/drug addiction is a progressive dis-ease....of the body, mind and spirit. Please try and hate the dis-ease, not the person that has it. [...]
This is a tough concept for many people to wrap their heads and hearts around...esp. people who have been thru what namikikam's daughter and family have been thru. But the concept is so true. I doubt anyone would find it more acceptable to be sexually molested by someone with a roof over his head rather than a homeless person...addiction or no addiction. This crime is horrendous, regardless of who the perpetrator is. Whether a householder or a homeless person...whether addicted to substances or not...a crime is still a crime.
You no more love in your heart and no more aloha for those unfortunate homeless people. May God bless you.
After 10 years it sounds like namikikam's daughter has moved on in healing mode. That's wonderful. It really, really is. But, namikikam...how 'bout you? Just something to think about, not write about publicly.