Homeless in Hawaii

[adias]

Beach boy’s comments on "Self Storage" and homeless just didn’t register, since I’ve always viewed self-storage facility as an expensive option, personally I would sell my stuff at a garage sale rather then store it in one of these places

I once went to one of these facilities with a friend in Chicago to store her stuff. The facility had temperature and humidity controls and a space the size of a closet cost $150/month. Another friend stored her stuff in a storage facility and didn’t keep up with the payments and lost all her stuff.

It seems in Hawaii, shelf storage facilities are indeed viewed as beneficial for the homeless. IMHO this appears to be a short sighted thinking; as Beachboy put it, a way to squeeze their last dollar out of their pocket.

Edited by - adias on 01/21/2007 05:13:01

[Momi]

I had an eye opening experience on the homeless situation. My son ran away from home for one week last summer. We didn't know where he was but someone said he was roaming around in Kona. One day, when after the ordeal was over and he returned home, we were driving past an area in Kona that just looked like a bunch of bushes. He said, "Ma, that's where I lived when I ran away". I said wot? What did you eat and what did you do. He said there is a whole community of homeless living in those bushes. They knew he was a runaway and fed him. It gave me another perspective of the homeless. People who had no roof over their heads, shared their food with my son. It is scary and the situation doesn't seem to change since land is unaffordable and rents are ridiculously high. It is a very sad situation.

[adias]

Does the “Puna Community Development Plan” address affordable housing and housing for elderly on fixed income?



Edited by - adias on 01/22/2007 16:00:30

[Francesca]

TO Momi: What a wonderful post! The kindness shown to your son by people with so little is heart warming. If only those with much, much more were so generous, perhaps we would all have homes. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[Momi]

Thanks Francesca. I don't know what the development plan contains. Got a copy somewhere?

[adias]

I heard from a property management person that there are lots of rentals in the Puna region and quite a few of the renters are county subsidized housing.

This is probably how the county is handling the homeless situation on the Big Island.




Edited by - adias on 02/07/2007 12:31:17

[oink]

A bit dated, but some may find it interesting: http://www.hrsa.gov/homeless/pa_material...tation.ppt It is a link to a Microsoft Office Power Point presentation. If you don't have Microsoft PowerPoint, you may want to download the viewer from Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=048DC840-14E1-467D-8DCA-19D2A8FD7485&displaylang=en

S. FL Islander to be

[Guest]

I just read This story about a University of Wisconsin Football player from Kona thats family will soon be homeless.

Breaks my heart when I hear these stories of working families that still end up homeless.

I am a native Hawaiian currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I received a full ride athletic scholarship to play football at the University of Wisconsin. It is very difficult for me to concentrate on football and school, knowing that my family is going through legal hardships in Hawaii.....Currently my father is the only source of income for my family. He supports my family the best he can. It brings tears to my eyes to hear that my father’s hard work turned to heartache as he was told that my family had until February 1st to clear their things and leave the place we call home.... Hard working Hawaiians should never be evicted from their homes, especially those on Hawaiian homelands.....

Snippets of James Kamoku letter to HR.

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Coming home soon!

[Carey]

Adias, there are still students at UHH that live in tents & shacks & such (not on campous, but around...)
There is a problem here in Puna & in Hilo with people that do not have, there is the Peanut Butter Ministry in Hilo ('soup kitchen' that serves evening meals) there is the Christmas Wish program that offers year round services for needy keiki (including summer camp for those that have never been able to afford)...
Goodwill, Salvation Army & ARC of Hilo all have services for the needy in Hilo & Puna
There are many volunteer opputunities at these and other organizations, for those that really want to get involved (or who just want to know the extent of need). There is always a need for those who are willing & able to give their time & talents...

[Carolann R]

Momi...thank you so much for sharing your son's story. I am touched and uplifted to hear that even the most humble of people do what they can to help another. There is an important lesson here.

Carrie

http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com
http://www.vintageandvelvet.blogspot.com
http://thedb.com/vintageandvelvet

"Freedom has a scent like the top of a newborn baby's head..." U2