Neil's 90 day homeless plan

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

Yes, it's much clearer now...
http://www.staradvertiser.com/featur..._homeless.html
In continuing to completely ignore the basic realities of the matter, Mr. Alexander says he "never said to stop feeding the homeless" (which he certainly has), and that these already stressed/maxed churches/organizations that care should do so on their own properties (as tho they all have this luxury) and venture into personel/monetary sucking 'support services' of which most have no extended experience, money, personel, or possibilities. This guy either doesn't get it, or there is an agenda to willfully not get it. I lean towards it being both.
His kind roll all the homeless into one big ugly ball and label it in the most base and ignorant ways, as tho all the homeless are exactly the same, just dirtbags that will always exist simply to be filthy/ugly advantage-taking do-only-as-they-please panhandling no-good troublemakers on booze/drugs unwilling to go into a crowded multi levels of disgusting shelter and quickly better themselves to get back into the futile spirit killing rat race like he knows they all can. Like that's a legit option, or even possible for 10,000 bodies.
And after having recently spoken to the organization CAR-A-VAN's Darlene Hein, one of the top dogs on the very front line of homeless basic care, services, and info, and coming away from the very brief conversation totally disenchanted with her POVs on finding true solutions, that I'm thinking there is now no chance the problems will be addressed in any substantive ways other than BSing the public and giving most of those in need false hopes at best. After giving a few details on what 'the plan' includes, which were all old hat, like housing for families, to which I asked if it was free, she says "Why does it always have to be free?! Everybody pays rent!", and with that she was gone, without me being able to respond that yes, everybody pays rent, until suddenly they can't, at which point they too become available for the homeless services she oversees. If even she refuses the glaring need for free housing and instead goes for the same non-stick bandage approaches, then the future is indeed gloomy for the entire issue to ever be resolved to anyone's satisfaction. Smells like the fix is in.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

To compound the already beyond sad situation, we now have the State taking it right off the cliff http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/2...reference.html
And Grand Poobah Homeless Czar "Anderson declined to comment on the proposed changes to public housing placement policies because he had not studied the issues".
Yeah, he's well informed... Hail the Czar, who has no clothes! Stop digging, Neal!

And then there's this tidbit from a National report with a comment from our local IHS spokesperson, which from all the horror stories I've heard recently I'll call an outright lie!
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/02/...rges-fees.html
In Honolulu, the nonprofit Institute for Human Services started charging fees at its two shelters three years ago. The shelter gives 90 days free, thereafter charging $70 per month for a single person, or $90 for a family, said spokeswoman Kate Record. "It's really encourages them to get on their feet and prepares them for paying rent," Record said. "It prevents people from taking advantage of the shelter, coming and going like a hostel."
Like Union Rescue Mission, both shelters say they will not turn away people who truly cannot afford to pay.

That last line is so contradictory from what I hear about the shabby treatment of those under the IHS roof, that I'll be heading over there and requesting confirmation from her/them.
Plus, IHS founder, the late Rev./Father Claude Duteil, absolutely supported the homeless 'taking advantage' of his services, it's why he did it!
Dbl. plus, the Czar advocates those that feed the homeless to instead take that food to places like IHS as donations and let them handle servings. IHS has been systematically stealing the worthwhile donated food for decades, lots of really good stuff, leaving only what the thieves don't want behind for the needy.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

Swung by the IHS to ask about those past the 90 day free grace period and without the monthly $70 rent being allowed to stay... nope, no pay, no stay.

Also picked up a copy of Nea's 90 day plan, which the secretary wasn't even able to pull up on her computer, had to come back the next day and get it. You'd think the plan would be promoted and easily accessable online to the public if this was actually something they wanted credible input and solutions to, but no. And after reading it, I can see why, it's pretty dismal in it's scope and end game realities. Here it is, in a condensed form:

VISION
Everyone deserves a dignified place to call home.
Odd that there is no mention of accomplishing this in the plan.

GOALS
Set a path for greater coordinated action to ending homelessness.
Demonstrate collective resolve in addressing homelessness in Hawaii.
Provide immediate and measurable relief to the visible chronically homeless who are most in need.
Ensure that public areas are available to all members of the community.

THEMES
A - REACH OUT AND ASSIST THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
OBJECTIVE 1: Identify and assess people who are chronically homeless for immediate services in Waikiki and the urban core of Honolulu.
ACTIONS: Complete a voluntary regristry of persons who are homeless in Waikiki and the urban core of Honolulu to identify needs and those requiring assisstane and intervention.
Rapidly house with services the most vulnerable.
Offer a package of services to include psychiatric outreach services.
OBJECTIVE 2: Support the chronically homeless and chronically mentaly ill who are gravely disabled to recieve needed mental health treatment.
ACTIONS: Research and implement appropriate options consistent with statutes and regulations.
Begin dialog with the Burns School of Medicine, insurance carriers and other community groups in developing mental health servise options for the future.
OBJECTIVE 3: Identify available substance abuse treatment services and gaps in services in order to maximize access for all the chronically homeless in need.
ACTIONS: Review and inventory services and beds for substance abuse treatment in various geographic regions, including capacity and availability.
Identify and expand resources for medically supervised drug treatment as potential increased funding is identified.
B - INCREASE ACCESS TO PUBLIC AREAS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
OBJECTIVE 4: Identify and provide outreach as early as possible where persons who are are homeless are established or increasing in numbers.
ACTIONS: Develope Homeless Assistant Teams (HAT), made up of outreach professionals and trained volunteers, to reach out to those in need with appropriate services.
assign HATs to areas where persons who are homeless are gathering as early as possible to provide outreach services.
Coordinate Government shelter and outreach services for persons in need.
OBJECTIVE 5: Coordinate community efforts to maintain clean public areas.
ACTIONS: Coordinate Gov. and volunteer groups in maintaining clean public areas.
Explore joint partnerships with Gov. and local businesses, faith-based communities, and community centers in identifying possible ways to make restrooms and potable water available to the public.
OBJECTIVE 6: Ensure that existing shelters are maximized for capacity and service.
ACTIONS: Review facilities repair, maitenance and improvement needs.
Consider expanding hours of availability of shelters.
Consider a pilot 'safe parking' program at one shelter.Develope a priority list and budget for these actions.
C. HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION EFFORTS
OBJECTIVE 7: Provide info about sound relocation and financial planning, including Hawaii's high cost of living, to individuals and families outside of Hawaii who inquire about the availability of services.
ACTIONS: Establish common language among shelters and service providers in response to inquiries.
Provide info concerning camping rules, the high cost of housing, and work requirments in shelters.
Begin to standardize shelter addmission and outreach policies throughout the State, working with the various policies throughout the State, working with the various continuum of care providers.
Begin discussion among community based providers towards the establishment of common standards for service provision.
D. INCREASED LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS
OBJECTIVE 8: Establish the State Interagency Council on Homelessness.
ACTIONS: The council will be created by executive order of the Governor.
Council membership includes, but is not limited to, the heads of key state agencies, local federal officials, local continuum of care representatives, community leaders, representatives of faith-based communities, homeless or formerly homeless persons, and representatives of the philanthropic and business community.
E. IMPROVE DELIVERY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TOWARD ELIMINATING HOMELESSNESS.
OBJECTIVE 9: Educate the general public about the most effective means to eliminate homelessness.
ACTIONS: Encourage charitable organizations to consider programs based on best available research and practices, and discourage programs, including certain food distrobution programs that support the choice to live in parks or on sidewalks when shelter is available.
Provide a catalog of effective programs and volunteer opportunities available through shelters, outreach service providers, faith-based and other community groups.

[Hellbent]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

can someone who is fluent in bullsh!t translate all that into common english?

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

I found it easy enuf to understand, and it is complete BS.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

Homeless Czar of cruel jokes Alexander digs out for parts and reasons unknown.
Gee, couldn't have expected this as soon as APEC was pau... http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/b...136781178.html

[Frankie's Market]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

Homeless Czar of cruel jokes Alexander digs out for parts and reasons unknown.

Reasons unknown? Ya think?

Three Abercrombie underlings have already given the resigning "to spend more time with family and kids" reason to step away from the administration. Alexander's resigning "to attend to personal matters" sounds like the homeless czar wanted to add a little variety to the proceedings.

[salmoned]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

'Mission Accomplished!'

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

'Mission Accomplished!'

Considering how worthless those words were 5 years ago from Bush's mealy mouth, I doubt we'll at all be caring why you repeat them today.

[salmoned]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

Is that the royal we, Ron, or do you profess to speak for others beyond yourself?

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

I'll let the masses post their own points in your favor.

[salmoned]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

The royal we then, eh? In the future, I hope you choose to drop the pretensions.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Neil's 90 day homeless plan

It's nice to have dreams...