Honolulu Moving To Expand Crackdown On Homeless

Honolulu’s prohibition against sitting or lying in certain areas is likely to be expanded in Iwilei after City Council members voted to advance a bill on Wednesday.

The measure covers parts of Dillingham Boulevard and streets around the Institute For Human Services’ shelters including Kaaahi Street, Kaaahi Place and Kaamahu Place.

IHS Executive Director Connie Mitchell said the broadened restriction is necessary. She said unsheltered people in the area have become a health and safety threat to residents of her shelters. A 26-year-old man was stabbed in the area last month, she said, and some of her clients are tempted into illegal activity on the street nearby.

“We need to really encourage people to work to get off the street,” she said. “If we only maintain them on the street, it’s going to be problematic.”

Read more: https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/05/honolulu-council-moving-to-expand-crackdown-on-homeless/