GOVERNOR LINGLE, LT. GOVERNOR AIONA DEDICATE TRANSITIONAL SHELTER FOR HOMELESS LEEWARD COAST FAMILIES

For Immediate Release: October 29, 2006

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle and Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. today officially opened a transitional shelter for homeless families who had been living on beaches and parks along the Leeward Coast of O`ahu.  A blessing was held today to welcome the families to their new temporary home and to celebrate another milestone in the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s efforts to work collaboratively with the community and other partners to find solutions to the homeless problem in Hawai`i.

The new shelter, named Onelau`ena, meaning a place where all necessities of life can be found, is located in a three-story, former military building (previously known as Building 50) at Kalaeloa in Barbers Point.  Once completely occupied, the building will accommodate approximately 200 residents.

Families started moving into the second- and third-floor units on Oct. 19.  As of today, 30 families, totaling approximately 150 individuals, are currently residing at Onelau`ena.  Approximately 90 of the residents are children.  The first floor remains under construction and is expected to open in mid-November.

“We are providing a safe and secure facility where families with nowhere else to turn can have a safe, supportive place to stay while they work toward gaining self-sufficiency and finding more permanent housing,” said Governor Lingle.  “Beyond just providing a roof over their heads, we believe it is critically important to work closely with these families to provide supportive services to help them gain skills to move forward.”

The families were identified and screened by Wai`anae Community Outreach, which has been contracted by the state Hawai`i Public Housing Authority (HPHA) to operate and manage the facility and provide social services and security.  Families with children were given priority to ensure that the children have a safe place to live and a more stable environment to attend school.

Onelau`ena residents will have access to self-improvement classes, skills development, job placement assistance, entrepreneurial training, basic education, child nurturing, and other services.  Families will work with Wai`anae Community Outreach to move from emergency status to become transitional housing clients. 

While families are in emergency status, they will take part in the various services to help alleviate barriers they may be facing that are preventing them from securing housing.  Through this participation, they will earn “village bucks” to redeem for rental fees that would normally be assessed.  As residents progress into transitional status, they will pay a fee to stay at the shelter, based on their income.

Onelau`ena features 61 living units, which range in size from 190 to 230 square feet. Each unit is partially furnished with a refrigerator, microwave oven, beds and two dresser drawers.  Families will be able to cook their own meals in their units or use the common kitchens located on each floor.  Churches and other community organizations will also donate food and prepare some meals.

Separate restrooms and showers for men and women are located on each floor.  In addition, each floor features a laundry room, as well as a common area where residents can gather for meetings and socializing.

Renovation work on the building, which started in late July, is being performed by crews from the Department of Accounting and General Services and workers from the Department of Public Safety’s prison work line. 

The building, which was constructed in the 1940s and previously used as an office building with classrooms and a library, was reconfigured into individual living units with a central corridor.  The units and kitchen and laundry areas were rewired, and sinks and counters were built into the common areas.  Open stairwells were fenced in as a safety measure to prevent children from falling.

The cost for the renovation, including the appliances, is estimates at $2 million.  All of the furnishings in the units were donated by the Army and the Navy.  In addition, household items were donated by churches and other community organizations. 

“Just as we saw with the Next Step shelter in Kaka`ako, the people of Hawai`i have stepped forward to help their fellow residents in need,” said Governor Lingle.  “We are grateful to the many groups and individuals who are working collaboratively with us to find solutions to the homeless problem along O`ahu’s Leeward Coast and throughout our state.”

Onelau`ena is one of several solutions the Lingle-Aiona Administration is working on to help the homeless living along the Leeward Coast.  Since June, the Administration has been collaborating with the community, private sector, military, faith-based organizations, social service providers and the city to identify appropriate properties to use as emergency, transitional and affordable housing facilities. 

Last week, DAGS began work on an emergency transitional shelter at the Wai`anae Civic Center on Farrington Highway.  The site will house approximately 300 people and is expected to open in the Spring of 2007.

“The compassion and heartfelt willingness of so many people to help the homeless has been overwhelming and inspires all of us to keep moving forward,” said Kaulana Park, who Governor Lingle appointed to serve as the HEART (Homeless Efforts Achieving Results Together) homeless solutions team leader.  “We have much more work to do, and we will continue to partner with the community to find solutions to end homelessness in our state.”

####

Fact sheet attached.

For further information contact:

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone:  586-0043

Kaulana Park 
HEART Homeless Solutions Team Leader 
Phone:  586-3806

.