Homelessness is the topic on the next Jordan's Journal

Homelessness continues to be a major societal problem nationwide and Hawai‘i is no exception. Tackling an issue of this complexity is no easy task and there is no magic solution. Fortunately, we have an individual who welcomes the challenge and is confident we can virtually eliminate homelessness in the islands over the course of the next decade. His name is Colin Kippen, Hawaii State Coordinator on Homelessness. On the next episode of Jordan's Journal, Rep. Jordan sits down with Mr. Kippen to discuss his role as well as his organization's mission.  

Mr. Kippen has spent his professional career between Hawaii and the nation's capital working as an attorney dealing with a range of social issues, focusing on native rights law. The Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness (HICH) was created through executive order by Governor Abercrombie in July of 2011 and serves as a state level entity in cooperation with the US Interagency Council on Homeless (USICH), which was established by President Obama in 2009. The USICH's Hawaii ties do not end with the President; General Shinseki is currently heading the Council. 

Having support at the national level is important, but the war on homelessness will be won at the local level on an individual-by-individual basis. Mr. Kippen stresses that the keys to overcoming this great societal ill are community and collaboration. At the institutional level, solving homelessness requires a comprehensive effort spanning from education, healthcare (to include mental health and substance abuse programs), and education to veterans’ and Native Hawaiian affairs. Even with all of these players working together, tackling homelessness ultimately comes down to the community and the efforts of individuals like you and me. 

If you'd like to help the HICH eradicate homelessness in Hawai‘i, or just learn more about the organization and its programs, you can contact Mr. Kippen via email at ckippen@dhs.hawaii.gov or call him at 808 586-0974. 

Episode 23 - Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness from Jo Jordan on Vimeo.

The episode will air Monday, January 28th at 1:00 p.m. on Olelo Channel 54.
You can also view the episode on Rep. Jordan's Vimeo and Youtube channels.