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Helping hands
Homeless help center open in Kailua-Kona
Tom Blanch spends his days at the library or Kailua Pier. He spends his nights at the same places. Blanch has been living on the streets off and on for three years. "I sleep outside, and I like it outside," the 65-year-old said. "What I don't like is not having a place to cook and a place to shower." That all changed about two weeks ago when The Friendly Place opened its doors. A one-stop service center open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., the facility provides showers, washing machines, counseling and locker facilities to the homeless, as well as help in developing skills for a transition into more-permanent housing. In addition to basic hygiene care, consumers can work on the computer, use the telephone, cook in the kitchen, receive mail and borrow a book from the facility's library. Breakfast is served every morning in the carport, and people can sign up for the services they need on that particular day. While some sit under the trees eating and talking story, others fold clothes or wait in line for a hot shower. "It sure beats a cold shower at the pier. It's wonderful having everything in one place," Blanch said. "You could always get help (from Care-A-Van workers). If you needed a ride or needed to get to the doctor, whatever, these people are just fantastic." Located at the former wastewater treatment plant off Pawai Place in Kailua-Kona's Old Industrial Area, the facility is a three-bedroom package home donated and built by Stanford Carr Development and operated by the Office for Social Ministry. The center will provide services for homeless families as well as adults 18 and older, but not for individual homeless youths. Two rooms are utilized by other community agencies or organizations, such as Adult Mental Health, Neighborhood Place of Kona, Family Support Services of West Hawaii and more. In the near future, there will be a nurse on property twice a week, HIV testing once a month and classes that will assist people in finding employment, teaching such skills as creating a resume or interviewing. Josephine Ibarra, West Hawaii coordinator of the Care-A-Van Homeless Outreach Program, said she would also like to start a weekly talk-story session with the consumers where agency representatives can come in and explain their services. "It's been going smoothly. People have been abiding by the rules, and we allow our consumers to come in and volunteer," she said. "The idea is for them to give back, so they come in and donate an hour to help clean up, pick up trash or whatever needs to be done." With up to 50 people that come in on a regular basis, Ibarra said the most requests have been for the showers, laundry, telephone and mail. Some need to make appointments, while others just want to check in with their families on the mainland. For 45-year-old Michael Sena, the largest benefit comes from the agencies working together. "The way (Care-A-Van employees) work with other agencies to help everyone with whatever they need, whether it's getting birth certificates, medical care or IDs," Sena said. "(The Friendly Place is) long overdue." Sena is fairly new to the streets, only becoming homeless a few months ago. Generally moving around West Hawaii, Sena has spent the past few weeks in Kailua-Kona waiting for the day center to open up. While he never planned on becoming homeless, he said it was just a series of events that led to his current state. "I don't know if you'd call it bad luck. I moved to Hawaii, everything was going great, then everything went downhill real fast," he said. "I lost my car, lost my job, lost my home. Over the weekend, someone walked off with my backpack. But these people have been helping me try to get my life back in order." Despite the help the day center offers West Hawaii's homeless, there is still no place for them to sleep, and that is a challenge. For many on the streets, having a place to sleep comfortably at night is their biggest problem. "You always have to sleep with one eye open," Sena said. "You can't sleep in the parks -- they chase you out. The beaches get tiring. Some don't even sleep, and that puts them on edge. Even if there was a place that we could store our things so we can go work. We're not just bums -- we want to work." Ibarra said a homeless shelter is the next step and is currently in the planning phase. There are about 350 homeless in West Hawaii registered with the Care-A-Van program, she said. "There's a large percentage not registered with us. There's a lot of families living in cars," Ibarra said. "Our goal is to help them get their life back. (The facility) will be the beginning of one's hope, to be directed to services they need. It's hope." |
