A long-awaited homeless shelter will open at the Hilo Salvation Army Friday alongside a mobile kitchen facility.
Funded through $1.8 million in state and county money, the Hilo Overnight Safe Space will house up to 25 homeless individuals each night at the Salvation Army’s Ponahawai Street location.
Meanwhile, the Malama ‘Ohana Kitchen Trailer contains a commercial-certified kitchen within a 37-foot long trailer. Captain Sam LeMar, Salvation Army Hawaii County coordinator, said the trailer will serve food to the Safe Space, but can also be transported to other parts of the island where it might be needed.
“Heaven forbid, but if there’s a natural disaster, we can respond to it,” LeMar said, adding that the Salvation Army distributed thousands of meals in the wake of the 2018 Kilauea eruption, which could be expedited with a mobile kitchen.
LeMar added that the trailer was funded entirely through a single private donor.
The mobile kitchen was assembled on Maui, which led to a slight delay to its development following the Lahaina wildfire last year. Because of that delay, it has coincidentally become ready for service at right about the same time as the Safe Space, where it will be stationed most of the time.
That Safe Space, which includes all 25 beds beneath a large tent structure, is a “low-barrier” shelter, LeMar said. While drugs and alcohol will not be permitted at the shelter, people under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be allowed in so long as they do not cause a disturbance or pose a danger to themselves or others.
The shelter will also be open to animals, and has limited kennel space.
Based on discussions with the county and other homeless services in Hilo, LeMar said he expects the shelter will be filled to capacity most nights, and that it will consequently only be available on a first-come-first-served basis. He said homeless individuals can check in around 7 p.m. and check out around 7 a.m., but added that those hours could be flexible.
“We’re going to do our best to be a good steward,” LeMar said, adding that he believes the Safe Space will not be overly disruptive to the surrounding area. “If people can have this shelter, we can save lives, save a lot of heartache.”
Both the Safe Space and the Kitchen Trailer will be unveiled Friday at a dedication ceremony at the Salvation Army.
“We are incredibly moved by the collective work of dedicated local leaders and supporters to help bring these vital resources to fruition for the community,” said Major Troy Trimmer, divisional commander for The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands, in a statement Tuesday.
“Shelter, food, and fellowship is often at the very cornerstone of caring for those facing homelessness, and marking this milestone also marks the beginning of even more opportunities to make a meaningful difference.”
The Safe Space is one of several homeless shelter initiatives being undertaken in Hilo this summer. In July, the county erected a temporary shelter further makai on Ponahawai Street to house homeless people camping in the nearby storm drain, before that shelter was relocated to a site on Kuawa Street near Mamalahoa Highway.
And the state Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions intends to develop at least two small, communal living spaces called “kauhale” on the Big Island. Earlier this year, the office considered several potential Hilo kauhale sites, although none have yet been confirmed.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com
