The real solution to homelessness
On Jan. 9, the Tribune-Herald published an opinion piece by Mr. Ross Wilson Jr. suggesting the need for a sit-lie ban in response to individuals without homes.
None of us are happy with the fact that there is homelessness in Hawaii County. It is not good for our community. It is not good for business. It is certainly not good for the individuals, families and children without housing.
The primary driver of homelessness in Hawaii is a lack of truly affordable housing. Until we have sufficient affordable housing, sit-lie bans will only push unhoused people into neighboring communities, parks and residential areas. Expensive policies that call for our well-trained, under-staffed police department to cite and jail people for resting, a basic human need, will only exacerbate the problem by cycling them from the courts to our jails and back onto the streets.
The homeless data tells us that many of those who are currently living on the street are some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The ones that need the most help.
As of Dec. 31, 2024, there were 835 individuals unhoused and on the street. Most shockingly, 145 of these unhoused individuals were children under the age of 18, and another 100 of these individuals identified as kupuna. 90% of our unhoused have been Hawaii residents for five or more years, with many experiencing chronic homelessness having been born and raised here.
Hawaii County just finished the second year of a five-year investment in a robust homelessness response, including but not limited to: coordinated outreach, street medicine, addiction services, mental health support, temporary shelters and permanent housing solutions. In these two years, much suffering has been alleviated, 311 people have been moved off the street, and our community partners have built relationships with hundreds of others which will allow us to match people to permanent housing as it becomes available.
The real solution — the permanent solution — to homelessness is attainable, affordable housing. Until we have sufficient affordable housing, tactics like sit-lie bans won’t work.
My goal is to find solutions that reduce homelessness, not worsen the problem, or push people onto someone else’s lanai.
Jenn Kagiwada
County Council member, District 2 (Hilo)
Open letter seeking help from governor
Aloha, Gov. Josh Green: I am a Hawaii-born-and-based mental health clinician in Mountain View on the Big Island. I am reaching out to you because of a concerning pattern occurring with HMSA.
I and at least four individuals in my immediate professional circle have faced delays with credentialing averaging six to 12 months after their initial application. We are in rural areas across Big Island and Kauai and hope to serve our clients, who are known to have extensive intergenerational trauma, insecurity and lack prosocial skills that deeply affects how our communities function.
By result, providers who are credentialed through HMSA, the largest insurance accepted in Hawaii, have accrued high caseloads, waitlists and ultimately issues with burnout.
I have corresponded with HMSA for 15 months in attempts to clarify the delays to my credentialing. I have received fragmented responses from individuals clearly outsourced to other non-ESL counties.
I have been working with Dr. Kelley Withy in the HELP Program and have found solace in your political plans to assist and retain clinicians like myself. I believe there are many more in the state who are facing similar issues. In my consultation groups, our clinicians have spoken about redirecting their care to other states because of the financial impact caused by HMSA.
I kindly ask for your consideration to review this matter. HMSA is not doing business how Hawaii does business.
Kirsten Wong
Grow Slow Counseling, LLC.