Lawmakers to Visit Homeless at Keaau Beach Park

Photo: Honolulu Star Bulletin

Homeless Tents at Nanakuli Beach

WHAT: The House Committees on Housing and Human Services will conduct a site visit to the Leeward Coast to meet with the homeless on the beach. The meeting will be coordinated by Pastor George Noble of the People of Promise Church

WHEN: Friday, June 4, 2010 - 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Kea’au Beach Park – Waianae

WHY: The visit allows lawmakers to see firsthand the plight of the homeless residents and to talk with them directly about viable solutions. The committee chairs, Rep. Rida Cabanilla (Housing) and Rep. John Mizuno (Human Services) are working with community organizations to meet with local homeless residents to efficiently address their plight. They will also discuss the “chronic homeless” and Housing First Pilot Program at the site visit.

“It’s important to have our lawmakers come out and actually see the living conditions, and to hear directly from the homeless on what works or doesn’t work,” said Pastor Noble.

“This is a complex issue, and it will remain so unless lawmakers get out of their offices and see what’s happening on the street,” said Rep. Cabanilla. “This is a way to reach out and personally work with the homeless community on solutions that are viable for them.”

“We held an informational briefing on Wednesday and I was shocked to discover the sheer number of homeless we are dealing with, as well as the percentage of homeless that are from outside Hawaii,” said Rep. Mizuno. “Our services are being drained and we need to turn this around, in a humane way.”