Eh, Sand Island Treatment Center stay asking fo’ kala fo’ help da homeless, yeah? ?? Last year November, da city wen make ’em move, now dem guys like get planny dollahs fo’ pay lease and utilities so dey can keep helping da homeless peeps who stay get mental health and drug problems. ???
Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Gov. Josh Green stay working togeddah fo’ help da homeless, but da Sand Island Treatment Center stay focusing on 123 of da most hard-head, long-time homeless wahine and kanes. ?️? Dey stay on da street long time, always calling 911, using emergency services, and costing planny fo’ taxpayers. Dem da same kine dat end up in da court system aftah causing trouble. ??⚖️
Kevin Konishi, one ‘Iolani School graduate, was one homeless kane in Mililani befo’ he wen join Sand Island Treatment Center in 1995. Now he stay da boss. ??️ He talk about da clients, say “Dey da most heavy on da taxpayers. Dey da ones yelling at da stop signs and making all kine pilikia.” ??️
Da clients often go inside da two-year stay-in program ’cause da court say so. Ovah dea, dey get help fo’ job training, financial smarts, and fo’ work on dea mental health and drug problems. ???? Some, like Konishi, wen choose fo’ go, ’cause dey like make bettah life fo’ demselves. ??
Sand Island Treatment Center wen start in 1961, helping da local peeps wit dea addiction. Dey had da first AA meeting, too. But last year, da city wen need fo’ fix tings wit da Clean Water Act, so dey wen make da center move from Sand Island to one big building in Iwilei. ???
Da new place stay cost ’em $20,000 fo’ lease, plus $8,000 fo’ energy and anodah $8,000 fo’ da photovoltaic system. ??☀️ Dey stay asking da state fo’ $446,800 fo’ fix up dea kitchen so dey can teach culinary skills and cook fo’ dea clients. ???
Da Sand Island Treatment Center get choke rules, li’dat staying clean and sober. ?♂️?? Dey get three psychiatrists and 50 staff who all wen go through da program befo’. Dey even help da clients find jobs, manage dea kala, and apply fo’ government benefits. ???
Aftah da clients pau wit da two-year program, dey still get follow-up case management fo’ make shua dey stay good, no use drugs or booze, and no go back to doing crime. ??? Dey also get alumni meetings fo’ keep ’em connected to da program. ??
Eh, no forget, Sand Island Treatment Center stay need kokua fo’ keep helping da most hard-head homeless peeps on Oahu. ??
NOW IN ENGLISH
? Island Life! Oahu’s Chronically Homeless Program Seeks Support ?
The Sand Island Treatment Center is seeking financial assistance to continue helping the chronically homeless, who often face mental health and substance abuse issues. ?? In November 2021, the city forced the center to relocate, and it now hopes to receive aid to cover its $36,000 monthly lease and utility costs. ???
Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Governor Josh Green are collaborating to address homelessness at all levels. However, the Sand Island Treatment Center focuses on 123 of the most vulnerable, chronically homeless men and women. ?️? These individuals have been living on the streets the longest, frequently use emergency services, and contribute to high taxpayer costs. They often commit crimes and end up in the court system. ??⚖️
Kevin Konishi, a 1980 ‘Iolani School graduate, became a client at the Sand Island Treatment Center in 1995 after experiencing homelessness in Mililani. Now an administrator, Konishi describes the program’s clients as the ones most burdensome to taxpayers. ??️
Clients often enter the center’s two-year residential program due to court orders. They receive assistance with job training, financial literacy, and mental health and substance abuse treatment. Some, like Konishi, joined voluntarily to improve their lives. ??
The Sand Island Treatment Center started in 1961, helping local residents with addiction. It held the first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Hawaii. However, last year, the city required the center to move from Sand Island to a larger building in Iwilei due to the Clean Water Act. ???
The new location costs $20,000 for the lease, $8,000 for energy, and another $8,000 for the photovoltaic system. ??☀️ The center has requested $446,800 from the state to renovate its kitchen for culinary job training and meal preparation for clients. ???
The Sand Island Treatment Center has strict rules, including staying clean and sober. ?♂️?? The center has three psychiatrists and 50 staff members who have all gone through the program. They help clients find jobs, manage their finances, and apply for government benefits. ???
After completing the two-year program, clients receive follow-up case management to ensure they abstain from drugs and alcohol and avoid criminal activities. ??? Alumni meetings are held to keep them connected to the program. ??
Remember, the Sand Island Treatment Center needs support to continue helping Oahu’s most vulnerable homeless population. ??
