HOW HAWAI`I TREATS HAWAIIANS - THE CONCLUSION
By Will Hoover - The Honolulu Advertiser
Stanlyn Placencia said government officials should be talking less about creating "affordable housing," and speaking more about creating "affordable rentals."
"Everything is snapping," she said. "Our services are stretched thin. We have good, decent people who can't get a good, decent place to live."
Jordan believes the coast's homeless predicament could be substantially eased if the state would open a temporary homeless transitional shelter in Wai`anae similar to "Next Step," recently opened in Kaka`ako.
"It could be a mini-shelter, smaller in scale," Jordan said. "Instead of 200 people, the facility could maybe accommodate, say, 75 to 90 people."
Jordan acknowledged that there's no facility available in the area, such as the warehouse that was converted into the Kaka`ako shelter. But she said a large, stabilized tent structure could work.
Reminded that the concept resembles the "Camp Hope" model residents three years ago screamed would become a "dumping ground" that would transform Wai`anae into the "homeless capital of Hawai`i," Jordan said, "Look at what they've got now.
"I think our community is ready for something like that. I think the people would be responsive...."
"We could see how this is working at Next Step and how it would work best in other parts of the island," he said.
Placencia said: "I believe our community is ready for anything right now."
