Hundreds of people could get a roof over their heads with a new public housing volunteer initiative.
A campaign launched on Martin Luther King Jr. Day called "I have a dream" aims to make the dream of a safe place to live a reality, by refurbishing 150 units by the end of next month.
The waiting lists for state and federal subsidized housing vary from 9,000 to 13,000 names long.
"I can tell you that there are people who have been waiting for years, and I mean years. 5, 6, 7, 8 years some just give up and move forward," said Hakim Ouansafi, Public Housing Authority.
Often with nowhere to go.
"It’s people who are living with relatives in overcrowded homes, it’s people who are sleeping in their cars at night," said David Gierlach, Public Housing Authority.
Or outside in public places.
"It’s a community effort whether the community wants it to be or not because our people who have no homes are living on our sidewalks," said Gierlach.
Some who seek public housing can’t get it due to hundreds of units in the state’s inventory in an uninhabitable condition. The Hawaii Public Housing Authority wants to change that with volunteer help to rehab 150 units.
"These are the units that we recognize with the help of the community we can get them out very very quickly. within 30 days," said Ouansafi.
"This agency like other state agencies has seen cutbacks and rollbacks and pay freezes and so forth, so we need volunteers to help," said Gierlach.
The agency says the effort will pay off in more ways than just housing the first families who will move in. more may be helped later.
"From the rent that we’ll be earned, we’ll be able to hire some jobs, create some jobs, so it’s a win-win situation," said Ouansafi.
The campaign has already gained support from many who plan to pitch in and invite others to do the same, among them, the late Don Ho’s daughter Kea Ho, who says the issue has impacted her father and family.
"If this issue can affect the biggest voice to ever come out of Hawaii, what about everyone who has no voice, our neediest people?" said Kea Ho, program supporter.
Once the first 150 are fixed up and occupied, the agency says they’ll try to tackle 250 more the same way.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
