Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Housing corporation
will tally homeless
people in HawaiiQuestion: I heard that the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii is going to conduct a count of the homeless population in the state on all islands, except Kahoolawe and Niihau. I know a lot of homeless program funds are determined by this type of count. The difference is that the homeless population is seen only at night and they don't have permanent addresses.
How does HCDCH plan to carry out this count and verify its accuracy? Did the new governor approve this? I heard the cost was astronomical. I feel that the money instead could be used to build new shelters for the homeless population.
Answer: The survey is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is being funded by all four counties.
"In order to be eligible for additional federal funds in the future, we have to have a handle on the number of homeless that we have," as well as their demographics, said Sandy Miyoshi, administrator of homeless programs for HCDCH.
At $45,400, the cost is not considered "astronomical" and federal funds will reimburse the counties, she said.
HCDCH was in the process of drafting a contract between each of the counties and SMS Research, which was selected to conduct the survey after a "request for proposal" was sent to potential survey takers. No dates for the survey have yet been set.
HUD "requires us to use an approved methodology, not just anything we want," Miyoshi said. Among several options offered, HCDCH chooses the "point-in-time" count, which requires that all the shelters on a given night turn in nonpersonal demographic information about every single person in that shelter.
On the same night, survey teams go with outreach providers familiar with all the areas where the homeless are known to congregate. Typically, "we prepare the homeless for that night of the count," Miyoshi said, by offering such things as fast-food certificates. "That usually elicits amazing response."
There is a statistical margin of error, Miyoshi acknowledged, but said the count should be good enough to provide a ballpark figure.
The survey will take place on a different night on each of the main islands within a week's period. Although there may be some duplication of people who might go to another island, that number is believed to be very small.
The last count taken about three and a half years ago showed a total point-in-time count of 3,171.
Asked why it differed from the 13,000 (7,000 on Oahu) homeless reported by the state for the fiscal year 2001, Miyoshi explained that the larger number reflects "the numbers that we serve in the course of a year," with people either falling into homelessness or out of it -- able to find shelter with friends or relatives and/or get back on their feet.
Miyoshi believes the next point-in-time survey will show a higher number, because of a "ballooning" number of at-risk and hidden homeless.
She also says she is hearing more and more about immigrant and non-English-speaking populations "who are here with extended families and unable to get a job because of both the economy and language barriers. If these reports are as substantial as they seem to be, I think it will create a big number in the homeless count."
Miyoshi says this year will probably be the last time a point-in-time count will be done.
HCDCH already is in the process of putting a new database system online, which will provide it with an ongoing count of homeless at a given point in time.
These numbers will only reflect the people served, "but we think most of the homeless in Hawaii touch some service at some point in time in the course of their being homeless," Miyoshi said.
It will take about a year to get all the contracted agencies on the database. After that, HCDCH wants to get the smaller nonprofit and faith-based agencies who also serve the homeless to help keep a count.
Mahalo
To bus driver James R. Chandler, for his kindness and honesty. I am stationed with the Air Force in Alaska and, before Christmas, was sent to the Federated States of Micronesia for a mission. I had a couple of days layover in Hawaii, so decided to go sightseeing on a city bus. I dropped off my luggage at my hotel, but carried everything else with me -- $1,000 cash, military ID, driver's license, credit cards and plane tickets.I sat up front by the driver to ask him what to see in a short amount of time. He was very friendly, giving me lots of great tips and showing me where to get off. I was so taken in by the sights, I didn't realize I left my wallet behind.
By the time I knew what had happened, the bus was long gone and I couldn't even see what number it was. I tried everything to contact the bus company but it was a holiday and they were only taking emergency calls. I asked every bus that pulled up if they had heard about a wallet that may have been found. They all said no, but gave me a number to call for lost and found. I called, but was told that, with the holidays they couldn't find anything for two more days.
I couldn't wait that long. With no money in my pocket, I couldn't even get a ride back to base. I prayed that the bus would show up, and after about four hours it did! By then, I had seen so many buses and drivers that I wouldn't even be able to pick him out of a line up, but Mr. Chandler walked up to me and said, "I'm glad to see you. I have been looking all over town for you."
My prayers had been answered. He returned my wallet, and all of its priceless contents, but would not even take a finder's fee, gift or anything! Was this guy for real? I am still shocked by how nice this man was. May God bless him and his family. -- Robert Taylor, Civic Action Team, U.S. Air Force
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