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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0067.030 2024-2026Aloha, My name is Kali French and I am the Chief Operating Officer at Hope Services Hawaii, a homeless service's provider' helping our neighbors on Hawaii Island avoid and overcome homelessness. I am testifying in strong support of Resolution 46-25, which would approve the award of Round 3 funds to nonprofit' organizations addressing housing and homelessness on Hawaii Island. Mahalo for making the commitment to `Ztelp end homelessness in our community. In this round of funding Hope Services will receive funding to continue services at 3 existing campuses, with programs that continue to deliver results: 1. Hale Maluhia in Hilo, a women's shelter that provides 26 beds for single women, adult couples, and medical respite. 2. The Friendly Place Campus in Kona, which houses three programs: 1. The Friendly Place Resource Center, which serves 60-100 meals daily, prepared by staff and community partners. It also offers showers, laundry, mail, phone, computer/printing, employment and housing services, emergency shelter placement, case management, and more; 2. West Hawaii Emergency Housing Program, which offers 31 emergency shelter beds in private units; 3. Hale Kikaha, which offers 23 Permanent Supportive Housing units. 3. Keolahou Emergency Shelter & Hale Kulike Permanent Supportive Housing. Keolahou currently operates 44 emergency shelter beds for single men, but will reduce that number to 21, due to the reduction in funding between Round 2 and Round 3 from this grant. Hale Kulike provides 18 single -room units for single men overcoming chronic homelessness and living with one or more disabling conditions. These services serve as a critical link in the path from homelessness to housing. I urge you to pass this funding with urgency on Friday January 31. Further delays or failure to fund these programs could do irreparable damage to your neighbors who are struggling to overcome homelessness. Our communities would suffer from consequences such as: Lack of staffing to provide resources, meaning community members seeking guidance or assistance in obtaining shelter, food, urgent services, or permanent housing may not have access to experienced service providers to help them navigate this process. o In West Hawaii this likely means more people camping outside the campus gate, on Ali`i Drive, and in front of businesses. o In East Hawaii, this could mean people camping outside the shelters, on Bayfront, and/or in residential neighborhoods. Keolahou Emergency Shelter would close - For our community members experiencing homelessness, the consequences of this grant deferral or denial would be dire. We could see an increase in homelessness as individuals struggle to secure stable housing without the necessary support services. Access to critical resources, including shelter, food, and healthcare, would become increasingly limited, exacerbating an already precarious situation. Safety threats - Lack of adequate staffing presents a safety threat to progratn participants, staff, and your constituents in the surrounding community. People denied entry to shelter due to funding delays are likely to remain ADMNISTRATTVE OFFICE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Directors EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP 357 Waianuenue Avenue President Secretary Dean An Chief Executive Officer Hilo, HI 96720 Peter Hoffmann Rev. Robert Stark, SSS David Kurohara Brandee Me .n - �� Phone: (808) 935-3050 Vice -President Treasurer Renee Rivera Fax: (808) 935-3794 Charlene Iboshi Michael Stimson Laurie Higashi Comm. i°1. d Doc ID: 5418leal636e43d5d3a463223312eaf044b9b24e on the streets of Kona and Hilo, where they have a high chance of becoming victims of violent crime, and/or utilizing emergency services. Additionally, reducing the ability to operate the Friendly Place safely means decreased access for participants to meet their basic needs in a safe space, leading to the likelihood of higher visibility to constituents in the community. • Decreased Case Management and support - Case managers work directly with our clients to help them get back on their feet. Our staff, who are already working tirelessly in challenging circumstances, may experience increased operational strain. Without adequate resources, they will face overwhelming demands, leading to burnout and potentially necessitating layoffs. This not only affects the staffs morale but also compromises the quality of care and support we can offer to those in need. • Increased difficulty in staff retention: It has become increasingly challenging to retain and recruit staff in social services. When our employees, who work with often difficult populations, experience reduced hours and feel undervalued, it can be demoralizing. Burnout is a significant issue in our field. It is only fair for staff to expect that, given the community's need for their services and available funding, they will receive appropriate compensation for their work. • Increased health risks: Both the mental and physical health of individuals experiencing homelessness could further deteriorate in the absence of support. The stress of unstable housing, combined with limited access to services, can lead to devastating consequences for their well-being. • Increased strain on community resources: The broader community would also feel the impact of this decision. Local services, including hospitals and law enforcement, may experience increased strain as homelessness rises, leading to higher costs and potential safety concerns for all residents. The cost of further delaying this funding is too great for our community to bear, especially at a time when federal funding is volatile thanks to our president's executive orders. This is an opportunity for our local leadership to stand up for our most vulnerable community members, and show them that we are united in protecting their human dignity. Please continue to serve your houseless neighbors by funding the programs in Resolution 46-25 today. Mahalo, Kali French Chief Operating Officer ADNIMS'T'RATIVE OFFICE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Directors EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP 357 Waianuenue Avenue President Secretary Dean An Chief Executive Officer Hilo, HI 96720 Peter Hoffmann Rev. Robert Stark, SSS David Kurohara Brandee Menino Phone: (808) 935-3050 Vice -President Treasurer Renee Rivera Fax: (808) 935-3794 Charlene Iboshi Michael Stimson Laurie Higashi Doc ID: 5418leal636e43d5d3a463223312eaf044b9b24e