Hawaii's first medical respite kauhale closing on Thursday
HONOLULU (Island News) -- Gov. Josh Green's first medical respite kauhale for homeless people in his backyard is closing, but the state is scaling up permanent housing to get more people off the streets.
"This was a demonstration project to show that we can quickly put a kauhale up and take care of individuals who are in great need," he said.
Hundreds of people came through the kauhale built at the Department of Health lot next to the state Capitol and Washington Place, with almost two dozen people living there over the past six months.
"We're hoping that the community sees that this is a safe space that we're able to, you know, keep the security around it and all the while people are able to heal," said Darrah Kauhane, executive director of Project Vision Hawaii.
Many of the residents were discharged from hospitals, but too sick to be living on the streets.
"If for nothing else, I think it really kind of laid bare the need for this kind of thing," added Bob Wardlaw, Project Vision's director of social services. "Or just the the dearth of options for people who are coming out of the hospital."
With the closure of the temporary medical respite, the state's now getting ready to deploy 50 permanent housing units to three kauhale across the island.
As part of the governor's plan to make a huge dent in homelessness, the state will soon be opening kauhale projects in Iwilei, Mapunapuna and Kaneohe.
"This is going to be a mission for us over the coming years," Green said. "And our goal is to decrease unsheltered homelessness by 50%."
HomeAid Hawaii is building the tiny homes funded in part by $65 million from the Legislature.
"We're able to build at least a sense of dignified housing for these folks who are just coming off the streets," said Kimo Carvalho, executive director of HomeAid Hawaii. "So that, you know, they have a sense of connection, a sense of community, a place where they can heal, they can meet their full potential and thrive."
In the new year, the state will be offering nonprofits, church groups and other community organizations an opportunity to run kauhale of their own.
By Kristen Consillio, ISLANDNEWS
Available at https://w.kitv.com/news/local/hawaiis-first-medical-respite-kauhale-closing-on-thursday/article_0f2a7578-9a30-11ee-a691-0392ca840822.html