2017-08-02 County helps homeless people move to temporary shelter from Old Airport Park -- press release

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Wil Okabe Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8211  Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C  Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 (808) 323-4444  Fax (808) 323-4440 August 2, 2017 NEWS RELEASE County, Social Services Agencies Move Homeless People to Temporary Shelter in Kona The County of Hawai'i together with social services provider Hope Services have moved a group of homeless people from the Old Airport Park to temporary facilities on County property in Kona. The one-acre property at Hale Kikaha is accommodating approximately 20 adults in facilities consisting of tents, portable toilets, a temporary water spigot and showers. The move came as the County on Wednesday enforced a no-camping policy at the Old Airport Park, whereby all belongings and housing structures in the park were removed. This was aimed at improving this facility as a community park. Prior to Wednesday’s move, outreach workers from HOPE Services, Veterans Outreach, the West Hawai'i Health Clinic, Access Capabilities, County Parks and Recreation, Office of Housing and Community Development, the Mayor’s Office (Kona), and faith-based volunteers were able to find a limited number of spaces at other homeless shelters and relatives’ homes. Available housing options were offered to the most vulnerable homeless people first, i.e., families, the elderly, chronically homeless, as well as those with substance abuse or mental health issues. While the team of County and social services agencies tried to absorb the entire homeless population from Old Airport Park, the available housing inventory was insufficient. Approximately 25 individuals remain without housing. The County is working to increase the number of beds at the Hale Kikaha shelter, while exploring a permanent site to house the homeless population. The Police Department will be monitoring to ensure that campers do not return to the park. The enforcement took place as the Department of Parks and Recreation gears up for clean-up efforts on Wednesday, August 9 and Thursday, August 10, 2017. On Tuesday, Mayor Harry Kim issued an emergency proclamation under which zoning, building and fire codes were temporarily waived to enable the homeless people to be accommodated at the Hale Kikaha facility. For further information, please contact Lance Niimi at 961-8379. County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.