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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN CRCOC 2024/06/04 (2022-2024)Committee on Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight 28"' Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii June 4, 2024 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Communications, Reports, and ORDER: Council Oversight was called to order at 5:32 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Chair Ms. Jemi Kagiwada, Vice Chair Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Mr. Matt Kancali`i-Kleinfelder, Member (came in later) Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member (came in later) Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Absent & Excused: Ms. Cindy Evans, Member Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, FROM THE Statements from. the Public on Agenda Items, PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: (There were none.) COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Comm. 847: REQUESTS A PRESENTATION BY SUSAN KUNZ, OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR, REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING FUND From Council Member Susan L. K. Lee Loy, dated April 12, 2024. ; and Comm. 847.2: From Council Member Susan L. K. Lee Loy, dated May 24, 2024, transmitting a PowerPoint presentation. Motion to Close File: Ms. Lee Loy moved to close file on Comm. 847. Seconded by Ms. Kagiwada, CRCOC-28 June 4, 2024 CHR. VILLEGAS: Administrator Kunz? (Note: At this time, Housing Administrator Susan Kunz came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. KUNZ: Good afternoon, Susan Kunz, Housing Administrator for the Office of Housing. Thank you very much for this opportunity today to present to you our first annual report for our Homelessness and Housing Fund. So, kind of reflecting back on how we got here, Resolution 442-22 that was adopted on July 19, 2022, provides that we are to report annually to this body, our progress on our goals and outcomes from the Strategic Roadmap that the resolution also asked for us to put together. So, we are here today to present to you with that. I am going to —we have a PowerPoint presentation to provide, and I will turn it over to Sharon Hirota, who is the Division Manager for this program. Thank you. (Note: At this time, Housing and Community Development Division Manager Sharon Hirota came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. HIROTA: Aloha, Council Members, Sharon Hirota, Division Manager for the Community Engagement Division for the Office of Housing and Community Development. Thank you for this opportunity to come before you to share about the work we've done in regard to the Homeless and Housing Fund. (Note: At this time, Housing and Community Development Division Manager Sharon Hirota came forward and provided a PowerPoint presentation to the members of the Committee. For viewing of the presentation, see the DVD copy of the proceedings on file in the Clerk's Office, or online at http://hawaiicounty.granicus.com. A copy of the presentation is made part of the record, see Comm. 847.2.) Relinquish Chair: At this time, the Chair relinquished the chair to Vice Chair Kagiwada. ACTING CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you, Sharon, really appreciate that. Just love to hear any comments or questions from anybody here. Council Member Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. Thanks, Sharon, for being here and thanks for this report. Actually, it was Ms. Kimball who said, "Sue, we should get our Housing Report done so we can understand where we are." I love all the information here. I know that based on some of the areas where you have, looking forward, you've already begun to identify gaps. I was curious in some of the programs that you mentioned, and don't have to be part of this report, but as you collect data, have you compared the amount or cost and then like the return on investment? So, for example, like the Overnight Cot Sleeping Program, at first glance, it looks pretty Page 2 CRCOC-28 Ju►ie 4, 2024 modest, right? We at least have them someplace and if we've actually been able to kind of compare dollars and then what it's providing, compared to something like expansion of the Engagement Hui. I'm just kind of looking for that back - office numbers. Have we done stuff like that? MS. HIROTA: We haven't dug that deep into our data. I have those same questions for nay team as we look at the data, but we can bring that forward in the near future. MS. LEE LOY: Yeah, I'm just thinking because as we measure the efficacy of this program, there definitely is going to be the question, what does $1 get you? I think of those commercials I grew up on, for the price of a cup of coffee, you can feed a family, right? Yeah, I would love to see that, not right away but as this rolls out. Then, as you collect this data, for example, with the rental assistance or Housing Voucher programs, this last session, the legislature put in a number of options as far as adaptive reuse, right, as far as housing opportunities; adaptive reuse, ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Unit) and augmenting some of those spaces for some of these programs. Have you looked at how those things we did at the legislature might help accelerate some of the other programs that we have? MS. HIROTA: I can't speak to it, but I'in sure Administrator Kunz can. I think when you look at --the ultimate goal to address homelessness is housing. So, I will tell you that we have very innovative partners in the community that will look at all opportunities to build housing. I know that the conversation around the opportunity to increase density to help not only the broader community but also start by helping their own family to ensure their family members have secured housing. So, we'll look at all of those opportunities and how we can connect. MS. LEE LOY: Yeah, that's where my curiosity lies. What areas are working? What's the biggest bang for our buck? Then of course, as policymakers, what types of policies and/or exceptions and exemptions should we start creating, or pathways we should start creating so that when the business decision, which feels like just a few years away from here, when this business decision has to be made, there might be other places where policy work might actually continue the program in addition to funding,? MS. HIROTA: Agreed, because we are looking forward because 2027 will be here, We've collected a year of data. So now we're going through it, kind of doing the analytical work about what's the impact, dollar wise, that we are making? MS. LEE LOY: Yeah, I'd be really curious, not right away, but as this kind of keeps rolling out, if you could just, that back -office data, I'd be really interested to see that. Thank you, Sharon, for all of your good work. It probably felt like Page 3 CRCOC-28 Jude 4, 2024 you have been drinking out of a fire hose for a long time now, but it's really showing an impact. So, thank you so much. Thank you, Chair, I yield. ACTING CHR. KAGIWADA: Thank you. Council Member Inaba, MR. INABA: Thank you, Chair. Thank you for the report request, Council Member Lee Loy, and for the presentation, Ms. Hirota. I'm just thinking, so this is based, we have our measurements of success at the beginning, which are based on those three success factors, and those are in relation to the road map, right? Or no? The Strategic Roadmap? MS. HIROTA: So, the Strategic Roadmap is more of a listing based on input from those that participated, how we should spend the funds. So, the priorities based on need of the communities that was done. These matrices, we took from HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) and the continue of care locally, because we've got years of data on this. So, using their data as our stepping stone to say this is what you've done up to a period and when the homelessness fund went into effect, how did we improve those numbers or decrease the numbers? MR. INABA: Okay, Administrator Kurtz, were the awarding of funds that we've done so far, as it relates to these homeless services, if I recall correctly, the last resolution that we did we had requested afterwards, a breakdown of those awards by the priority areas of the roadmap, right? (Note: At this time, Housing Administration Susan Kunz came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MS. KUNZ: Correct. MR. INABA: Okay. So, I see the value of what we're being shown here, but then we have a road map, we gave firnding out based on those priority areas of the road map, but our measurements of success are not those same things. There's overlap obviously, but it's not the same thing. So, I'm wondering if —haw do we get, you know, good data in line with how we decide to award the fiends, which was in line with the priorities? MS. KUNZ: I'm totally with you. MR, INABA: So, if you have anything to say on that. MS. KUNZ: I'm totally with you on that. So, the numbers that we're reflecting here today are performance outcomes directly related to how many people are we housing? How many people are we touching and how many people are we housing? I think it would be a good idea and we could certainly incorporate it. Page 4 CRCOC-28 huge 4, 2024 We've provided this information to the Council before, but maybe a breakdown by priority, the number of service providers that are addressing that, I think might be helpful, again, if you would like to see that. Then we could certainly look at what kind of numbers we could produce based on each one of those priorities. We'll have to play with it a little bit, but I think what you're saying is you would like to see something that's related to the 13 priorities that we have on the road neap. MR. INABA: Yeah, to a certain extent, just so it —I know these cone from HUD, but then, it's not how we've been thinking all this time even though they definitely overlap. It's just if we can get information that shows that correlation a little bit better, then I think it'd be helpful for us because I know we're going to see more funding going out soon. So, if there's just consistency in the way that we approach things and the way that we're reporting back, then we can all be on the same page in that sense. Thank you very much. MS. KUNZ: Sure. Relinquish Chair: At this time, the Acting Chair relinquished the chair to Chair Villegas. CHR. VILLEGAS: Council Member Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. I just want to kako`o what Council Member Inaba said about the priorities that were adopted by this body via resolution. If we can see how the projects that you are awarding are making progress for achieving those priorities, I think it would be really helpful. I also know that tomorrow, the point in time count information is going to be released. So, if we can maybe time the delivery of these reports with the point in time count information so that we as a body can understand how these programs are chipping away at the folks that are experiencing homelessness here on our island. Is that something that we can potentially think about for the next report, or if there's something that you could do in the interim, maybe in the next few months, to incorporate that data and align these projects with the road map priorities? Is that something you have time to pull together? MS. HIROTA: Yes. We have that information, we just have to present it, right? As part of the application for each of the —when they apply, they have to check a box, in some cases multiple boxes, on which priority they are addressing, then it needs to align. There are lots of improvements, there are improvements that, you know, lessons learned along the way over the last two years. Certainly, ensuring that our providers and the service that they deliver ultimately, whether they provide —they need to provide a path home. MS. KUNZ: As Sharon is speaking, I'm kind of thinking about how those numbers would reflect. So, the point in time count was taken in January. So, we Page 5 CRCOC-28 June 4, 2024 want to make sure that if we're reporting progress against the point in time count, it has to be activities that happened after January. So, it could be work that we're doing with the next round of funding, perhaps. We need to kind of talk through that a little bit, but we want to make sure that we're giving you performance that's real time. Does that make any sense? MS. KIERKIEWICZ: It does make sense and I do recognize that the point in time count is literally, one sliver in time, right, and depending on what's happening in the environment, if it's a rainy and stormy day and folks are able to get emergency elsewhere for the time being, but all other 364 of the year, they are houseless, right? The data is a little bit skewed. I think it's just an important data point to consider as you report back to this body. MS. KUNZ: Sure. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Other than that, I just want to take a moment to thank your team, but also the incredible providers island wide, that do the hard work. It's not easy; I don't always know that it's completely appreciated, but I appreciate it. Thank you. CHR. VILLEGAS: Thank you, Council Member Kierkiewiez. Council Member Kagiwada. MS. KAGIWADA: Thank you. So, how long have you been working with the Salvation Army with the young adults? Have you been working with them for a year? MS. HIROTA: Their initial contracts, yes, started in May of 2023. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. Why are young adults so hard to house? MS. HIROTA: I think what Salvation Army has brought forward as one of their challenges is the reluctancy for individuals to rent to young adults, who have no rental history, right? Some of them are on very fixed income or low-income, so that's been their challenge. So, we've been working alongside of them to be creative as to how do we --opens the doors for opportunities for them. MS. KAGIWADA: So, it's mainly finding the rental units? MS. HIROTA: Yes. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay, thank you. I'm pretty sure I heard that your community of practice has been looked at from other places? They're kind of interested in what we're doing here and what you've been working on. Is that what I've beard, and you're being recognized or at least maybe asked to come Page 6 CRCOC-28 Jwie 4, 2024 share how you're doing things? I think that's really, a testament to the work you're doing here. I don't know if you just want say a little bit about that. Some people know what I'm talking about. MS. KUNZ: I was going to say, Sharon, don't be shy. MS. HIROTA: Yeah, we're bringing together 16 executive directors. We have directors who fly in from Honolulu and as part of our team work is to bring these leaders together so they can share and collaborate. Alongside, we have guest speakers that come in to share innovative practices and those kinds of things. It's really hard for me to ---anyway, yes, we've been asked to share at a conference coming tip later this year about our work because it is unique. We recently were tip in the cominunity practice in mid -May. We had a representative from the Weinberg Foundation because they invited themselves and we said, "Sure, you can come in." He literally was just blown away about how these partners are not competing against each other, in essence, for the fiends but are really working alongside each other. I do have to share when I look back, the value of all of this. I had two executive leaders in the room, both running behavioral mental health services, one in East and one in West Hawaii. Both were thinking of coming to one side or the other and basically, the conversation ended, "I know my Kona peeps (people), I'll do my ,,Arork in Kona," and the other one said, "I can do my work in Hilo, and we'll collaboratively work together when clients move from one area to the other, but you don't need to create a new shop in town because we will take care of it." So, that was exciting about it. MS. KAGIWADA: Yeah, that's great. Okay, good. The way to get the best out of everybody and also, not duplicate services. Wonderful. Alright. Great. So, my colleague mentioned the point in time count, obviously, looking by Participant Location by Zip Code, of course, I am not surprised that the zip code that I represent is double that of the next highest zip code. What does this mean? What does this page mead? I didn't really get the run-down of what this page is referring to. How many people that you have, that the whole group —all the providers together, somebody has gone out and worked with or touched or connected with somebody? Is that what this is about? MS. HIROTA: Are you looking at the Participant Location by Zip Code? (referring to PowerPoint) MS. KAGIWADA: Other Resources, Engagement Hui, this one. Participant Location by Zip Code. MS. HIROTA: Yes. So, this represents the work of the Engagement Hui, right? So, this is a consortium of different organizations. This is the first time we've Page 7 CRCOC-28 June 4, 2024 been able to pull everybody together so that they're not duplicating services, being in the same places at the same time or the day after. They have a shared calendar. So, this represents all of the individuals who have agreed to enroll in the Engagement Hui, meaning shared data. And based on the data, they're ph-ming, as they stand there, they're pinning the location, and then being able to share so they know where they need to concentrate their efforts in, right? So, when you look at this, it's 96720 and 96740. But they, on a map, at least we can see it on a map being able to see where the number of individuals experiencing homelessness are and where our team needs to concentrate their efforts in. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. You said these are people who have agreed to participate. So, these are people who want help in some way? MS. HIROTA: Correct. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. That's what I needed to know. Thank you so much. Otherwise, just really happy to see the start of this. I'm glad that my colleagues asked some specific questions about data. Going to the ERAP (Emergency Rent Assistance Program), how many, you said you had 515 applications to date. How many people do you think you can help given the amount of money that you have for this? Do you have any kind of guesstimate on that? You said you paid back rent for one, you have two pending, but you have 515. MS. HIROTA: We estimate that we can help 700 in total. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. Over the course of a year? MS. HIROTA: Yes. Although a little over 500 applied, we still have to go through the application processes, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they're eligible. We know that, not included in the 515, 45 have already been disqualified because they either don't live here, they've already coaxed out on assistance, and for various reasons. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay, that makes sense. Alright. My last question is just on the Homeowner Assistance Fund Program. Did you say that was CARES (Corona Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) money or ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act)? What was the money from originally? MS. HIROTA: The homeowner assistance? MS. KAGIWADA: Yeah. MS. HIROTA: It's CARES money. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay, so, it's ending after this year? Page 8 CRCOC-28 June 4, 2024 MS, HIROTA: It ends on September 30, 2024. MS. KAGIWADA: Is there any possibility for finding more funds for this type of program? It's obviously needed. MS. HIROTA: We will do our best, but the federal government said that's the end of the program. MS. KAGIWADA: That's the end of the program, okay. Alright, thank you. Thanks for sharing today and sorry, last one. Residential Repair program, you said you were looking for fiends. You have some, does it look promising? Are you still casting about for potential sources? What's going on with that one? Because I know that people do use that and look to it. MS. KUNZ: We have good potential sources of funding for that. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay, good. We'll keep our fingers crossed and look forward to that announcement and share that with the public. Thank you so much. Thank you, Chair, I yield. CHR. VILLEGAS: Thank you. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. Thank you for the report, it looks good. Besides the questions already asked by my colleagues, what data have you compiled that points to why we're seeing homelessness and for what reasons? Lack of housing? Lack of jobs? I mean what is it? Do you have that data? I don't see it in here, that's why I'm asking. Because if we're going to make policy, if we're going to think long-term, longevity of the program, direction, road neap, then nothing better would help us directly then to know why we're seeing this problem; where it's starting. MS. HIROTA: So, we asked those questions in two different areas. The first one was the point in time count. So, Hawaii County asked specific questions around reasons. We're the only county that asked reasons for their experiencing homelessness. The other part is part of the Engagement Hui, is part of the questions that we ask what led them to being unsheltered or unstably housed. I will tell you the data shows us that 85 percent of the individuals that are enrolled in the Engagement Hui all said that if they had shelter space today, they would go, MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Like a home or like a—? MS. HIROTA: Emergency shelter transitional housing. I'm trying to find the data right now, but yes. Page 9 CRCOC-28 June 4, 2024 MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Okay. So, if there is a shelter available, that's where they would go. That makes sense, but more so, the why they became — MS. HIROTA: We asked those questions, and it varies from, just from the top of nay head, because I'm trying to pull the report up. It could be unstable family relations that led them to exit out of the household. It could be a domestic situation. It varies. People who have come here for work arrangements and it didn't work out. So, it varies, but that data is available. MS. KUNZ: It's so interesting that you ask that question because Sharon and the work that they're doing, is starting to populate some of that information. Because when they do outreach, they're surveying, right, they're asking these kinds of questions. But if you remember the second slide in her PowerPoint today, Alan Graham, who is the executive director of Mobile Loaves and Fishes, it's a non- profit that runs the Community First! Village in Austin Texas; he said that the major cause of homelessness is the profound and catastrophic loss of family. And everything that they build is around that. So, it was very interesting to meet and talk with him because that's what drives them to build community when they build housing. Because that's what they're trying to replace, it's community and family because that's what people have lost. So, yeah, it's very interesting. But we want to collect that data and start to populate some of those numbers. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So do we have that data, or we were collecting or we have not collected data? MS. HIROTA: We have the data through the point in time count, which will be released tomorrow. So, that would be a section, and then as part of our Engagement Hui, we see access to that information also. So, we can provide that. MR. KANEALI`l-KLEINFELDER: I would love to see that. I thought that would be in here today, not the point in time count, but any information gathered from our non-profit providers who are helping. I've done these things in the past with different groups, and there's always a questionnaire, why are you experiencing what you're experiencing? Some of that data can be shared and some of it cannot. But that is necessary for us to know where to point, and then really start to gauge what we're doing in the community with the funds that we have provided through the HHF (Homeless and Housing Fund), and where we should be heading. So, you have the data, it can be shared, and when can I see it? MS. HIROTA: We're working on other stuff, but I can get it to you within two weeks, by the end of the month. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER Perfect. Thank you, Sharon. Okay, thank you. I yield, Chair. Page 10 CRCOC-28 June 4, 2024 CHR. VILLEGAS: Alright, Council Member Kimball. MS. KIMBALL: Thank you. I'll be quick since it's late already. It's going to come across as only critical, but all the nice stuff has been said already, so I'm just going to focus on the couple of comments that I had. I'm looking at the three areas, which are identified as the how to measure success. The decrease in time experience homelessness, increase in number of households securing Dousing, and reduction in the likelihood of returning to homelessness. Just as an observation, I think only number 2 is represented in the data provided to us with the understanding that 1 might be a little hard until we have a couple of years under our belts, right, and how long that takes. So, just want to reflect that I still think there's progress to be made around the data reporting and the resolution that you mentioned before. But the one that Council Member Lee Loy and I threw together, I shouldn't say threw together; deliberated very intensively over, because that's the truth. We did sit down and had several meetings and said in order to make decision why we need information a and b, right? So, there was some real intention behind the resolution and the metrics we were requesting there, in terins of our ability to evaluate the successful components of the program. We're going to be again checking this in a few years. So, understanding again, this is a work in progress. There's still room to grow, and just wanting to refer you back to those recommendations in terms of metrics that we very deliberately pulled out. I know that there are some available on the website that is provided, and I've been looking at that periodically, So, I can see some of the stuff being reflected there, but I think our intention was to have, very specifically, an annual report to this body, even if it was pulling a lot of those numbers off. I wanted to just ask for clarity, if it's not clear that one of these metric numbers is not an unduplicated number, does that imply that there's potential for duplication? MS. HIROTA: So, the duplication comes in, potentially, when individuals receive services multiple tinges. So, we're working with our data systems and our grantees to report unduplicated information. So, we're trying to pull that data apart, but for now, what we had available was total number including potential duplications. MS. KIMBALL: Okay. Yeah, I think to that point, recognizing from conversations I know we've all had, that there's some information that we can't share, like which individuals receiving that benefit because of privacy rights around certain areas. I think as a body, we don't need unduplicated for everything, like some of the medical services. I don't necessarily know that we care that somebody has had been bandaged or had substance abuse help again and again. But it's really the housing piece of this. So, just in terms of what you're needing to set up internally, I know that there are privacy barriers with some of Page 1 3 CRCOC-28 June 4, 2024 the medical information. Just speaking for myself, but just generally, I think we care less about duplication in those areas than we do when it comes to receiving the real housing services or shelter services, and that speaks to one of your three priorities there. I think that was really it. I just wanted to again, refer you to that resolution with the metrics. I appreciate all the testimonials and I love the videos, very nice to hear from the folks that you're working with directly. I know it just sounds like criticism, but all the positives have already been said. I just wanted to be efficient with time. Thank you and thank you to your staff for being here. MS. KUNZ: Appreciate the guidance. CHR. VILLEGAS: Anyone else? Okay, I'll just quickly bring this home. What does the Engagement Hui do? MS. HIROTA: So, the Engagement Hui, as I mentioned, is made up of a number of organizations. They use a standard form to go out and meet people where they are on the streets doing engagement activities. So, engagement is like outreach. CHR. VILLEGAS: They're just getting them to fill out the form? Getting to know them and then they fill out the form, correct? MS. HIROTA: They fill out the form and then they're entered into a system and then the Engagement Hui convenes every week so that the partners can talk to each other about the handoff to housing programs, if they've seen somebody because they got called up for a housing program and I can't find them. So, not only are they coordinating their efforts through shared snap and one system that they can see— CHR. VILLEGAS: Right, so that's how they log the data? MS. HIROTA: Yeah. CHR VILLEGAS: Okay, great. Thank you for helping to explain that. So, one of my other questions was, listed here in the Engagement Hui and the individuals connected with and engaged with, the total number is 578. Then my question becomes did they agree to participate and get services, or did they just provide their information on a worksheet? MS. HIROTA: No, these individuals, as part of this enrollment, is that they have agreed to participate and get connected to resources. So, this is not just filling out a form and putting them in a database, but they're actually interested in connecting to some type of services, and the question becomes the appropriate services. Page 12 CRCOC-28 June 4, 2024 CHR. VILLEGAS: But it doesn't actually —is there further documentation on how many them actually did and end up housed? MS. HIROTA: Yeah, so all the 578, 120 have been sheltered or connected to a housing program; 93 are now connected to a case manager and trying to navigate the different resources. We still have 343 who are waiting for services. CHR. VILLEGAS: Okay, so 120. I'm just wondering what the percentage on that is. For some reason, my phone won't bring up my calculator. So, if we do 120 divided by 578, we've got a 20.7 percent margin of people, based on this. Okay. These are things I get asked because constituents are watching tens of millions of dollars go into these programs. Also of note, while I can appreciate Council Member Kagiwada's statement of the high number, 299, that are engaged with the Engagement Hui, and answered the question about the participants' location information based on where the participants slept the night before based on the zip code, the number 299 ends up becoming 51 percent of all of the houseless population in this 578, with Kona, 96740, only having 152. I have a hard time buying those numbers. If they are the numbers, actually, I'm sorry, let me flip this around. I feel that the numbers are actually a reflection of the allocation of finds that have been spent for homeless service providers being predominantly on the east side with services, and some of the challenges we face on the west side. So, for rue, that's disappointing that the numbers are that low because they're not a reflection of the population living on our streets, To me, it's a reflection of where the money goes, the services follow. If you take into account out of the 578 and you add in all the other zip codes, leaving out Kona, that's 73.7 percent are found everywhere else, and that also, I can't help but see a bit of a correlation of finding. So, I just, with some of these bigger numbers being in areas —yeah. So, what I'd ask for is in the next report, could you please provide a chart that shows how many people each organization that has been funded through this program, has served and stably housed. And in that chart, have the amount of money that each of these organizations have been allocated. Because to me, that's an important number; how much money is going to who and where, and how many people are then assigned, authentically, to being housed through those organizations. Is that something that's possible? MS. KUNZ: Yes, absolutely. CHR. VILLEGAS: Okay, fantastic. MS. KUNZ: I think we've actually done that before. CHR. VILLEGAS: Okay. Page 13 CRCOC-28 June 4, 2024 MS. KUNZ: So, a couple things I would like to ask for your help, actually. I think that it's a new program; we've kicked it off; it's been several months. We've done some meetings, promotion, trying to circulate flyers, educate our community police officers, business community, right, about the program. So, I would like to get your help in helping us to market the program, educate the community that this is what's going on and the service that we're offering. I think that would be really helpful, if you can help us— CHR. VILLEGAS: Quick clarification, when you say the community, are you talking the community as a whole? MS. KUNZ: Sure. Or whoever— CHR. VILLEGAS: Service providers? MS. KUNZ: Well, the service providers are the ones that we're engaging with to deliver the service. So, the Engagement Hui is a service that we're providing with collaboration of our service providers to do outreach. So, we can only provide services when people are calling to ask for help. So, there's a website where you would enter the application, let us know where an encampment is happening, where a situation is going on that you would like the Engagement Hui to address. So, what I'm asking for is help to educate your community that this service is available. CHR. VILLEGAS: Thank you, and I can, with confidence, tell you that we do and we're working very closely. MS. KUNZ: So, that's great. That would be awesome, and I want to continue doing that work. I think that part of what you're saying could be true. I think we should look at the numbers and how the Homeless and Housing Fund is distributed in east and west and that type of thing, but it is based on the service providers that are applying for the funds, right? CHR. VILLEGAS: Well, those that qualified or --- MS. KUNZ: Those that qualify, met the requirements. CHR. VILLEGAS: Have gone through HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) challenges to continue to have that. Yeah. Thank you, Susan, I appreciate it. And I am constantly there, side by side with community policing and providers, and it's tough work, I know. I've worked with the houseless population and mental health issues and children in foster care and group homes and all of those different things. So, I continue to have a heart for all of those services, but I have to continue to also have the voice for my community that is struggling and suffering and consistently raises their hand to Page 14 CRCOC-28 Jude 4, 2024 me and says how about some equitable distribution of resources and services provided on the west side? So, that's something I have to bring here because it's the voices I bear and it's my responsibility to be their voice here. So, thank you for that. Thank you for being here, ladies. With that — MS. KAGIWADA: I have just one —you piqued nay curiosity. May I ask one more question? CHR. VILLEGAS: Sure. MS. KAGIWADA: I'm just wondering if you guys keep track of count of how many people you have been in contact with versus how many actually agree to engage? MS. HIROTA: Yes, we have that data. MS. KAGIWADA: Okay. So, of all the people you've reached out to, it'd be interesting to know if there are trends or if there's different things going on about who's willing to engage as well. MS. HIROTA: Correct. Yes, so they may go to an encampment and be able to document that there were I I individuals, five of which are either already enrolled in the Engagement Hui or they enrolled in the Engagement Hui and how many chose not to. MS. KAGIWADA: Right. Yeah, how many chose not to I think is really important because definitely, you hear things, trends of different parts of the island of maybe places where it's fewer local people. So, maybe yeah, it'll just be really interesting to hear, like how that's happening. Alright, thank you. Thank you, Chair. CHR. VILLEGAS: All those in favor• of closing file on Communication 847 please say "aye." Vote on Comm. 847: The motion to close file on Comm. 847 was carried by Filed the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Lee Loy, and Chair Villegas — 6. Noes: None, Absent: Committee Members Evans, Galimba, and Inaba — 3. Excused: None. Page 15 CRCOC-28 ADJOURN- MENT: Approved: June 4, 2024 There being no further business, at 6:45 p.m. Chair Villegas adjourned the meeting. Ms. Rebecca Ville�'A, Chair Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight Committee RV/jm 03. io. 20N (Date) Page 16