Page 4 - MidWeek Central - Sep 8 2021

4 SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
Collaboration To Help Wahiawā Homeless Results In Success
Nicky Winter, executive director of Wahiawā-based Achieve Zero — an organi- zation with the mission to end homelessness — has a story to share about home, inspiration and possibility. It revolves around three Ho- nolulu Police Department officers who went above and beyond, a successful city project and a homeless vet- eran who reunited with his family after 13 years.
In May of this year, the city’s Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Un- sheltered Persons (HONU) Project was transported to Whitmore Village, largely due to the advocacy efforts of area city Councilmember Heidi Tsuneyoshi and state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz to address homelessness in the Wahiawā community. As the primary homeless services provider contracted by the state to service this region, Achieve Zero, formerly known as ALEA Bridge, was a natural partner in this col- laborative effort, Winter ex- plains. Piggybacking on the arrival of HONU, Tsuney-
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which eventually led to the VA providing him a brand- new phone with a year’s worth of service.
“While at HONU, Jamie shared his story with us, as well as his desire to be with his family in South Caroli- na and could often be seen flying his kite to pass the time. With our partners, we were able to make his wish a reality. Jamie, like his kite, flew home to reunite with his family on Aug. 18 after 13 years of separation,” Win- ter states. “Here’s what’s so remarkable about this entire story: This whole effort was aperfectstormofeventsthat is a proof of concept of how homeless services can be ef- fective with collaboration, compassion and humility,” she adds.
As part of the effort to en- sure a successful outreach to homeless people, landown- ers showed up week after week to assist. Meanwhile, city and state entities worked side by side with outreach providers and volunteers in the massive cleanup project. And HPD played their part.
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The HPD District 2 Com- munity Policing officers took it upon themselves to buy brand-new shoes for the homeless individuals who came to help clean up the bridge, because they had no shoes. Winter notes that all three officers, Arlene “Kuu” Ah You, Timothy Iinuma and Richard Fikani, showed up to HONU to wish Jamie farewell on the day he flew out, even though they were off duty. Ah You even took the time to play Jamie’s gui- tar and sing a song for him.
“These three officers should be commended for providing exemplary service for the greater good of our community and our people,” Winter states. “This is a sto- ry that has to be told because this collaborative effort at Karsten Thot Bridge should be the gold standard for end- ing homelessness, restoring our humanity and healing the growing divide between community and homeless- ness.”
Police officers Arlene “Kuu” Ah You (left) and Richard Fikani (right) deliver new shoes they purchased for homeless individuals Melissa and Jamie. With them (at center) is DeeDee Palafu of Achieve Zero. PHOTO COURTESY ACHIEVE ZERO
oshi’s office spearheaded a joint outreach and cleanup effort to address the grow- ing homeless encampments atWahiawā’sKarstenThot Bridge in response to the community’s concerns.
ray of sunshine in otherwise dark times, Winter adds.
For more information, vis- it achievezero.org.
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The entities involved in- cluded HPD District 2 Com- munity Policing Team, Dole, the Office of Hawaiian Af- fairs, Ali‘i Turf, Dela Cruz’s office, Hawai‘i Stevedores, Mana Construction, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Achieve Zero and the homeless com- munity.
“Our first three encoun- ters with Jamie, a U.S. vet- eran,whilehewassleeping in a tent at the bridge was uneventful as he was resis- tant to services. He wouldn’t even make eye contact with us. The fourth encounter, however, resulted in him agreeing to go to HONU,” Winter states.
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One the houseless individ- uals named Jamie provided a
HPD assisted with get- ting him into HONU, where Achieve Zero outreach case managers were able to get Jamie connected to Veterans Affairs to access the benefits he deserved as a veteran,
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