Waipahu halfway house seeks legal status

Victory Ohana has been unlicensed for the past 16 years

An established halfway-house service is seeking the proper permits to operate out of its "Pupu" area location in Waipahu.

The "Pupu" area, so called because of the number of streets whose names begin with Pupu, has been known for its high crime rate, although it has dropped over the years.

For the past 16 years, Victory Ohana Prison Fellowship Inc. had been operating without its city conditional-use permit and a state license to operate the kind of services it provides.

The nonprofit Christian group provides services to hundreds of men and women released on parole who are homeless or who have been released from psychiatric services for drug addiction or mental impairment.

Next month, the city Department of Planning and Permitting will hold a public hearing on whether it should grant a permit for the halfway-house service.

Until the permit is granted, the group is only housing its tenants in its facilities and offering services like case management, Bible studies and job training off-site in local churches.

Also at stake is $300,000 in state money appropriated from the Legislature's last session. The money is held up until Victory Ohana receives its proper permits.

"We want the money for solar heating and a computer training lab," said founder Gary Shields. "We have staff on duty at the building, but we can't call them case managers. We just call them security. We can't provide any services until we get that permit."

City Planning Director Henry Eng said once the department finds out about an operation or building without a permit, a notice of violation is given, which is what happened to Victory Ohana.

"There was some confusion as to whether they needed it," Eng said. "But if approved, I think the CUP (conditional-use permit) will get them to where they need to be."

Eng could not say whether he would grant the permit, saying that he needed more time to review the documents.

The Waipahu Neighborhood Board backed the group in its September meeting, despite opposition from state Rep. Alex Sonson (D, Pearl City-Waipahu) and businesswoman Priscila Zampaga, who wants to start a nursing home near Victory's women's facility.

Only one permit can be granted because of the proximity of the two housing groups.

"I think they are trying to fill a need that's present in the community," said board Chairman Richard Oshiro. "The board didn't take a position on the nursing home, but there is no question that the board supports the Victory Ohana group."

Sonson said he is not against the idea of a halfway house; he just finds it suspect that it was operating without proper licensing and permits.

"They're not a savior for the community," Sonson said. "If they want to help the community, they should first abide by the law. ... Can we trust them to take care of these people?"