Homeless micro units slated for Old industrial Area

HILO — Over objections from Kailua-Kona business interests, the Hawaii County Council agreed Friday to spend $650,000 for homeless housing in the Old Industrial Area.

The council voted 8-0 to move Bill 136 to a final reading next month. Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung was absent.

“With our homeless issues, we have to start somewhere,” said South Kona/Ka‘u Councilwoman Maile David.

The 32 micro housing units for chronically homeless, which could be shipping crates gussied up with basic amenities or some other kind of housing, will be purchased by the county in anticipation of getting operating funds from the state. The project will be paid from bond proceeds, fund balance and other sources.

The vote came after Kailua Village Business Improvement District Executive Director Debbie Baker and four business owners in the Old Industrial Area raised safety concerns about more homeless people being added to the Friendly Place, an emergency homeless shelter currently in use there.

Business owner Greg Slingluff said his 30-year-old family business is already suffering because of the nearby shelter. He said he often encounters feces in the doorway of his shop. He asked whether the county plans to increase lighting, sidewalks and other safety features.

“We don’t have a problem with homeless people,” Slingluff said, adding he’s actually employed a few of the residents. “We don’t have a problem with them; it’s where you’re putting them.”

Council Chairman Dru Kanuha, in a spirited rebuttal, said business owners have been complaining for years about the problem of homeless people in their neighborhood. With an opportunity to get help from the state by acting quickly, there’s no time for “not in my backyard,” he said.

“Yes, there are going to be issues with the businesses,” Kanuha said. “I would have thought they would be supportive of getting them off the street, out of doorways and actually put them where they can sleep. I’m just glad we’re doing something.”

Kailua-Kona dentist Clifford Kopp, who walked around the island over the Christmas holiday to publicize homeless problems and plans to embark on another one this week, said the county needs to do more.

“Why are we afraid to think bigger? Why, when we’ve known about this problem for so long, do we prepare legislation for only 32 beds?” Kopp asked. “We need to think, plan and create hundreds of shelter beds as a long-term solution. Thirty-two beds in five years, it is not enough, and says nothing to the greatness of the people of Hawaii.”

County Housing Administrator Susan Akiyama said the buildings, while labeled “permanent,” because they could be permanent homes for the homeless, won’t be permanent in the sense that they can be moved later.

Gov. David Ige, in proclamations declaring a homelessness emergency signed in October and December, pledged $1.3 million statewide to extend homeless outreach through July. Contracts must be signed by Feb. 23 in order to qualify for state funding.

“The county wants to be a good neighbor,” Akiyama said. “We are planning on a design that will make the units portable. So in the future if we need to move these units, we can move the units.”