Da number of houseless folks wen go up again on top Oahu, dat’s wat da latest annual survey wen show, but only small kine, an’ not as much as plenny mainland towns. ??
Da results of da Oahu Point in Time count, wen happen in January, wen find 4,028 houseless people, wea 59% was living outside, an’ 41% was staying in shelters. ??
Da overall count was up 2% from 2022’s total of 3,951 but down plenny from one high of nearly 5,000 in 2017. ??
Da results of da survey wen come out Thursday in one talk story session by Partners in Care, one group dat plans, coordinates, an’ advocates for da houseless, an’ makes suggestions for programs an’ services fo’ da houseless on top our island. ??️
Dis year’s count wen get done by hundreds of volunteers who wen go all ova da island on January 23 an’ ask da houseless folks wea dey wen stay da night befo’. ?️?
Da biggest number of houseless people by area — 630 — was found on da Waianae Coast, dat’s more than one quarter of those wen get counted on top da island. ??️
Heather Lusk, da head lady for Partners in Care, wen say dat while da Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents only make up 10% of Oahu’s population, dey wen make up 35% of those who wen answer da survey. ?️?
“Dis really shows us dat we gotta keep working togedda an’ provide housing services dat’s right fo’ da culture, an’ we really gotta focus our efforts fo’ help da Native Hawaiian an’ Pacific Islander communities,” said Lusk, da big boss of da Hawai‘i Health and Harm Reduction Center. ??
Da top tree reasons given for being houseless were losing job, no can pay rent, an’ issues related to da COVID-19. ???
Da percentage of old folks wen go up big time from 2022’s count — from 276, or 8% of da total, to 516, or 22% of da total. ??
State Sen. Sharon Moriwaki urged Partners in Care fo’ dig deeper into da data to look more close at da needs of da old houseless folks so dat da lawmakers can address da growing problem more betta. ?⚖️?
Out of da houseless folks who no more shelter, 73% wen say dey wen be houseless for one year or more, 61% wen report one or more had disabling conditions, 36% wen say dey get mental illness, 25% were survivors of domestic violence, an’ 44% were keiki or old folks (21% and 23%, respectively). ?️??
Lusk wen say get subgroups dat wen see big improvements in houselessness over da last ten years. Veterans, she said, have seen a big decline — 52% since 2015 — same ting with keiki (58%) and ohana with adults and keiki (60%). ????
Started in 2005, da Point in Time survey is one national movement by da U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development dat tries to understand da scope of homelessness in da U.S. ???
Dis year’s count wen record big kine surges in homelessness in cities all across America, including Phoenix; Tulsa, Okla.; Louisville, Ky.; Spokane, Wash.; and Santa Monica, Calif. ??
In Hawaii, da results of dis year’s count going be used fo’ look more into da houseless subgroups an’ related issues, da officials wen say, an’ get plans fo’ make small kine reports dat going focus on issues tied to Native Hawaiians, mahu and those who no identify as one specific gender, veterans, young folks, an’ those affected by domestic violence. ?️??️??
So, Oahu, da count fo’ da houseless buggahs wen go up small kine. But dat means we gotta work harder fo’ help out our ohana who no more one roof over dea heads. Let’s malama each other an’ take care of da ‘aina. We in dis togedda. Aloha. ????
NOW IN ENGLISH
??️ Slight Increase in Homelessness Count on Oahu
The number of homeless individuals has risen once again on Oahu, as per the latest annual survey, but the increase is minor, and not as significant as in many mainland cities. ??
The Oahu Point in Time count, conducted in January, recorded 4,028 homeless people, of whom 59% were unsheltered and 41% were in shelters. ??
The overall count was up 2% from 2022’s total of 3,951 but had significantly dropped from a peak of nearly 5,000 in 2017. ??
The survey results were announced on Thursday by Partners in Care, an organization that plans, coordinates, and advocates for the homeless, and provides suggestions for programs and services for the homeless on our island. ??️
This year’s count was carried out by hundreds of volunteers who spread across the island on January 23 and asked homeless individuals about their whereabouts the previous night. ?️?
The largest number of homeless people by area — 630 — was found on the Waianae Coast, representing more than a quarter of those counted on the island. ??️
Heather Lusk, the chairperson for Partners in Care, stated that while Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents only comprise 10% of Oahu’s population, they accounted for 35% of those who responded to the survey. ?️?
“This clearly indicates that we need to continue to collaborate and provide culturally appropriate housing services, and really direct our efforts to assist the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities,” said Lusk, the executive director of the Hawai‘i Health and Harm Reduction Center. ??
The top three reasons for homelessness were job loss, inability to pay rent, and issues related to COVID-19. ???
The percentage of elderly individuals significantly increased from 2022’s count — from 276, or 8% of the total, to 516, or 22% of the total. ??
State Sen. Sharon Moriwaki urged Partners in Care to delve deeper into the data to closely examine the needs of elderly homeless individuals so that lawmakers can better address the growing issue. ?⚖️?
Among the unsheltered homeless, 73% indicated they had been homeless for one year or more, 61% reported one or more disabling conditions, 36% reported mental illness, 25% were survivors of domestic violence, and 44% were children or seniors (21% and 23%, respectively). ?️??
Lusk mentioned that certain subgroups have seen significant improvements in homelessness over the past decade. Veterans, for instance, have seen a considerable decline — 52% since 2015 — as have children (58%) and households with adults and children (60%). ????
Initiated in 2005, the Point in Time survey is a national initiative by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development aimed at understanding the extent of homelessness in the U.S. ???
This year’s count recorded considerable surges in homelessness in cities across America, including Phoenix; Tulsa, Okla.; Louisville, Ky.; Spokane, Wash.; and Santa Monica, Calif. ??
In Hawaii, the results of this year’s count will be used to investigate homeless subpopulations and related issues, officials said. There are plans to produce subreports focusing on issues related to Native Hawaiians, sexual and gender minorities, veterans, youth, and those affected by domestic violence. ?️??️??
So, in Oahu, the count for homeless individuals saw a slight increase. But that means we need to work even harder to assist our family members who lack a roof over their heads. Let’s take care of each other and the land. We’re in this together. Aloha. ????
