Dis Council membah, Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, neva know dat da city wen push da Sand Island Treatment Centa inside his district ova Iwilei. But, he wen go check um out on Monday fo’ try find out how fo’ help wit da kala, cuz get plenny new expenses – $36,000 per month! ?
Da kine, formah Council Chair Ernie Martin, who stay tight wit da Sand Island Treatment Centa, wen say da new $20,000 monthly city lease an’ da $16,000 monthly utility an’ photovoltaic (PV) costs stay “unreasonable an’ unconscionable. Fo’ me, das shame.” ?
Sand Island stay get one waiting list fo’ go inside any of da 123 beds dey get. Dey help out da kine peopo who stay homeless long time, get mental health an’ substance abuse kine problems – da kine homeless peopo dat everybody, like da residents, businesses, tourism industry, an’ da government stay all concerned about. ?️?
Aftah Santos-Tam wen check out da program on Monday, he wen say da program stay “impressive.” ? Aftah he wen talk story wit da leadahs of da Sand Island Treatment Centa, he wen say, “Get plenny challenges, but we gotta remembah all da peopo dey helpin’.” ??
Da city stay goin’ tru da budget process right now, an’ dis stay da time fo’ “ask why we stay chargin’ so high kine rent” an’ why da city neva buy one photovoltaic system dat cost Sand Island $8,000 a month, on top da $8,000 monthly energy bill, Santos-Tam wen say. ??☀️
“Now dat we get da info, let’s do um right,” Santos-Tam wen tell. ✅
If Sand Island no can get help fo’ da kala, Santos-Tam wen say, “All dese peopo goin’ end up on da street an’ goin’ relapse cuz no mo’ support.” ?️?
Back in Novembah 2021, da city wen make da program move from da original Sand Island spot, so dey could make da wastewater treatment plant mo’ bettah fo’ handle fed’ral clean-water violations. ??
Da move to one city building behind da Institute fo’ Human Services’ shelter fo’ wahine an’ keiki stay rush-rush, wen cost ova $100,000 fo’ renovate, an’ wen get delayed cuz dey wen use da building fo’ emergency help da homeless peopo wit COVID-19. ?️??
Martin wen say da new monthly costs fo’ Sand Island stay “totally unreasonable.” ?♂️
“Get chance fo’ us fo’ make right da wrong,” Martin wen tell. ???️
NOW IN ENGLISH
?? ‘Effort to Cut Sand Island Treatment Center’s Costs!’ ??
Council member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam was unaware that the city had forced the Sand Island Treatment Center into his district in Iwilei. However, he visited the center on Monday to figure out how to help with the massive new expenses – $36,000 per month! ?
Former Council Chair Ernie Martin, a close ally of the Sand Island Treatment Center, described the new $20,000 monthly city lease and the $16,000 monthly utility and photovoltaic (PV) costs as “unreasonable and unconscionable. To me, it’s embarrassing.” ?
Sand Island has a waiting list for any of its 123 beds. They assist people who are chronically homeless with mental health and substance abuse issues – a homeless population that residents, businesses, the tourism industry, and the government are all concerned about. ?️?
After touring the program on Monday, Santos-Tam called the program “impressive.” ? Following a briefing by the Sand Island Treatment Center leaders, he acknowledged, “There are definitely challenges, but we have to remember all the people they’re helping.” ??
The city is currently going through its budget process, and now is the time to “ask why we’re charging such high rent” and why the city didn’t purchase a photovoltaic system that costs Sand Island $8,000 a month, in addition to the $8,000 monthly energy bill, Santos-Tam said. ??☀️
“Now that we have the information, let’s do it right,” Santos-Tam urged. ✅
If Sand Island doesn’t receive financial assistance, Santos-Tam warned, “All these people are going to end up on the street and relapse without support.” ?️?
In November 2021, the city forced the program to move from its original Sand Island location in order to expand its wastewater treatment plant to address federal clean-water violations. ??
The relocation to a city building behind the Institute for Human Services’ shelter for women and children was hasty, required over $100,000 in renovations, and was delayed because the building was used for emergency treatment of homeless patients with COVID-19. ?️??
Martin called the new monthly costs for Sand Island “totally unreasonable.” ?♂️
“There’s an opportunity for us to right the wrong,” Martin said. ???️
