Homeless Encampment Off Railroad Ave in Hilo

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

I drive past this area once or twice a week, and had no idea what’s hidden behind the trees. Video, still photo, and news story about a homeless compound in the forest near Target & Home Depot:
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/05/31...ched-thin/

[alaskyn66]

| During a sit-down meeting, Loy told Green homelessness is taking a toll on the county’s resources at a time when the island is also struggling to recover from last year’s eruption and other natural disasters.

"Our emergency services are really feeling the pressure,” she said.

Loy added Hawaii County’s first responders have been overwhelmed with 911 calls about people who are homeless. The calls range from reports about trespassing and theft to fights and vandalism.|

I would say that is a bit of an stretch on the truth. I listen to the scanner all day long everyday, I hear a call MAYBE once a a week. For that area. Sounds like they are trying to demonize people already down on their luck and or with issues

[terracore]

They were regularly camping behind an airport road that was barricaded off and closed a long time ago. You could still see the old road if you look to the right while driving past HPM towards Ken's. After repeatedly kicking them out they actually removed the barricade and reopened the road earlier this year in what looked like an attempt to close the homeless highway.

So now if you want to skip the light that goes to Banyan drive but didn't want to take the tour past the old airport terminal to The Other Roundabout (aka The Original Circle Of Death), you can turn right just past the airport and take the now reopened road that connects to TOCOD and make an easy right to Banyan via the little road alongside the ice pond/Seaside hotel.

Eta: Seaside

[alaskyn66]

That would be Banyan way You are referring to Terracore. Banyan way runs into Banyan drive.

[MarkD]

T-H story

Homeless get the boot from Mo‘oheau; guards stationed at two locations

"Twelve homeless people sheltering in Mo‘oheau Park were moved to shelters following a “deep clean” of the park’s facilities.

Hawaii County Parks and Recreation closed the park Friday in order to conduct a thorough cleaning of the area, particularly the bandstand and the bus stop, both of which have long been havens for homeless people seeking shelter."

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/201...b5ff31f573

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ETA: Some discussion of human waste in the area; was the County leaving the restroom in the bus station open 24 hours? Something that needs to be done when you have a homeless population.

[EightFingers]

There was something on the news a couple nights ago about a couple who flew in from Kentucky. No job, no money, nothing.


Puna: Our roosters crow first

[randomq]

With affordable housing outlawed and hiding in the shadows, what does the government expect to happen?

It would probably be cheaper to maintain a camp with restrooms and security than the direct and indirect costs of homelessness. Cleaner and safer for everyone as well.

[kalakoa]

affordable housing outlawed and hiding in the shadows

Housing merely need meet the latest safety requirements -- code compliance is obviously more important than actual housing:

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/05/24...-red-tape/

cheaper to maintain a camp with restrooms and security

Perhaps we can get funding for some studies and listening sessions followed by multiple required rounds of nitpicking before the almighty Planning Commission, complete with concerned residents (who support the idea so long as it's not near their house), police/fire chiefs, someone from the Hawaiian Kingdom arguing that we're not part of the US, etc.

Once all the money has been spent on studies, planning and design, there won't be any funding left for the actual homeless problem, which can then be used as a campaign plank in the next election ("vote for me, I promise to solve this").

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Perhaps we can get funding for some studies and listening sessions...

If the money gets short after all the in depth research, Oahu is looking at a solution for that problem - a vacancy fee. If someone buys a house or condo but doesn’t live there most of the year they could be charged a vacancy fee. Leave it to the government to bill you for not using their services. Some of the money (they claim) would be used for mental health problems of the homeless.

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/05/31...t-exactly/

[terracore]

quote:

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Originally posted by randomq

With affordable housing outlawed and hiding in the shadows, what does the government expect to happen?

It would probably be cheaper to maintain a camp with restrooms and security than the direct and indirect costs of homelessness. Cleaner and safer for everyone as well.

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Didn't this happen in Pahoa during the lava evacuation? I seem to remember the park having to be closed for 13 months because of the needles and filth.