HAWAIʻI COUNTY ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL CANAL CLEARING & RELOCATION EFFORT Mayor Roth Praises Partners in Joint Clean-up Effort
HAWAIʻI COUNTY ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL CANAL CLEARING & RELOCATION EFFORT
Mayor Roth Praises Partners in Joint Clean-up Effort
Hawaiʻi County is proud to announce the successful completion of the canal clean-up adjacent to the Hilo Bayfront Soccer Fields. The collaborative effort involved the County’s Department of Public Works, Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Housing and Community Development, and various community partners. Individuals who had been occupying the canal were offered a safe respite area on a nearby property managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the residual debris was properly disposed of.
“The purpose of the temporary respite and transition area is to provide individuals with a safe and dignified space to receive services and care without further burdening the Downtown Hilo business and residential community, which is already grappling with the nation’s largest humanitarian issue — homelessness,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “We cannot thank our team enough for coming together to create a plan that has been successful so far. The canal area has been cleared of tons of debris, and individuals are already beginning to connect with more permanent housing options. This is not just a win for us but a meaningful start.”
The temporary respite area, which is NOT named, offers netted Quickshades for former canal occupants to store their items and receive vital services. Since the inception of this initiative on Friday, July 5, HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, Neighborhood Place of Puna, and Project Vision Hawaiʻi have been providing services to the canal’s former occupants. Security measures will be in place to monitor the respite area and ensure compliance with Parks and Recreation rules. Individuals who violate these rules will be removed from the area and will face enforcement actions as outlined in the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes and Hawaiʻi County Code.
As each resident receives the necessary support to transition from the canal area to permanent or emergency housing, their space in the respite area will be dismantled and removed. This temporary site will be in place only through the end of July and is exclusively for individuals who were occupying the canal area at the time of the clearing. It will not be open to other individuals experiencing homelessness in downtown Hilo.
“We’d like to extend a huge mahalo to Neil Azevedo and the Department of Public Works Highways team for working expeditiously in the removal of debris from the canal and adjacent areas,” added Mayor Mitch Roth.
Looking ahead, the County of Hawaiʻi, in collaboration with The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division, anticipates the opening of a new homeless shelter in downtown Hilo in late August. This facility will serve as a permanent evening shelter for all homeless individuals in the Downtown Hilo area.
“Persons experiencing homelessness who may want/need access to community resources, should connect with the Hawaii County Homeless Engagement (HCHE) Hui by visiting https://neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/hche/ or by calling (808) 501 -1413, ext. 3.”
In partnership with the County of Hawai’i, the HCHE Hui is currently a pilot program inclusive of street outreach around Hawai’i island to reach homeless individuals who may want/need access to community resources. Current HCHE Hui Partner Agencies include Neighborhood Place of Puna, HOPE Services Hawai’i, Project Vision Hawai’i and Going Home Hawai’i. HCHE Hui Partners conduct weekly street outreach to engage with houseless individuals. Individuals have the option to enroll as a “participant” with the Hui. Once enrolled, the participant’s needs are accessed and appropriate services are provided and/or referred to help them meet their needs of securing stable housing.
