2024-12-05 Janet Six - Laserfiche WebLink

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According to the Hawaii Health Data Warehouse: "Between 2022 and 2023, Hawaii and Kauai Counties experienced 20% and 10% increases in total homelessness, while Maui County experienced a 5% decrease. • Hawai'i County: Of the 661 unsheltered households surveyed, 18.5% cited a family/relationship conflict, and 15.7% cited being unable to afford rent as reasons for their current living situation (https://hhdw.org/na-2023-point-in-time-counts/)" According to a January 30t" article published this year by Civil Beat: "The Big Island's homeless population has exploded in recent years. In 2019, 690 people were counted as homeless, a number that grew to 1,003 last year. https://www.civiIbeat.org/2024/01/a-birth-on-a-hilo-sidewalk-reflects- challenges-in-helping-a-growing-homeless-community/" I fear changing the zoning from conservation to recreation will encourage homeless individuals to move into areas that are hidden from street view. We witnessed this during COVID in the heavily wooded areas abutting Kuhio Kalaniainaole Park. Residents at Orchid Manor have witnessed drug trafficking and experienced vehicle vandalism and theft. Many homeless individuals have mental health and/or substance abuse problems and I believe opening up more land for "recreation" will exacerbate the homeless problem.