An Important Big Island Clean And Sober House Is Forced To Close …Laukapu House has been a refuge from the streets and addiction for seven years, serving more than 1,000 people in need, but must now vacate the property.
HILO, Hawaii Island — When Ricky Bowen was released after serving two years in the Hilo jail, he camped behind a church for several days. And then, on Friday morning he appeared on the doorstep of the Laukapu Clean and Sober Independent Living House.
He had been released without enough money to rent a place, and sat at a picnic table outside of Laukapu with rain pelting the gray tarp above his head, waiting to be told if Laukapu would take him in.
“I have nothing. I have no resources, I have no family, I have no friends, I have nothing. What you see is what I have,” he said, gesturing at the shorts and T-shirt he wore, and his black backpack.
Other inmates at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center told Bowen to seek shelter at Laukapu, which is operated by Access Capabilities Inc., but his timing was unlucky.
The facility has operated out of a seven-bedroom house in the Waiakea Houselots area since 2015, but it now faces a May 5 deadline to vacate the property. The rented home is likely worth $1 million or more, and the owner decided to sell while Hilo’s real estate market is on the upswing.
