Idea for downtown Hilo homelessness
Here’s an answer called the Homeless Intervention Detention Program.
With the support of the courts, homeless individuals will be subject to a 90 day-intervention option as a result of arrest, conviction or plea bargain.
The Homeless Intervention Detention Program will be a boot camp of sorts for the homeless. They will be provided medical diagnosis, and alcohol-, drug- and tobacco-free lodging. Their monthly stipend will be used to help to defer the cost.
By removing the incentives of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and cash, many of the participants would likely accept the offer of a free mainland plane ticket.
Those with mental illness problems would be treated and medicated. Offering mandatory training classes in life skills, required grooming, dental hygiene and a variety of other options would be provided by the staff.
About half of the homeless have mental illness issues. They get help and required medication for their problems. At least for 90 days.
About a quarter of the homeless enjoy the lifestyle. The incentives of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and cash is a path of least resistance. Take that away.
About a quarter of the homeless would like to change and reintegrate into society. We can help do that. The program adapts itself to all of these needs.
The program would be by merit. You miss classes or make a problem, and you sit on a chair all day. You get the meal of the day with no substitutes or additional dishes. You participate, and you are rewarded.
Daily exercise would be another component, and all television viewing would be online behavioral modification classes. Beautification projects, with a broom and a rake, (anywhere but downtown where they might get drugs) keeps them active and healthier. You get the picture?
While the productive members of society would consider this to be a positive lifestyle intervention, a fair share of the homeless would consider it to be an absolutely unacceptable deterrent. No alcohol, drugs, tobacco or pocket cash removes the incentive for being homeless. That’s an excellent result.
It will require bridging between the county public safety officers and the state Judiciary. Providing intervention as a form of incarceration would please both the court and the public safety officers. Properly administered, it will reduce the prison population and lower the fixed costs by utilizing alternative accommodations reasonably equivalent to boot camp.
The expectation is that a second 90-day intervention for repeat offenders would be motivation to accept our offer for a plane ticket. With the state of Hawaii the very worst state for mental health services, returning to family members on the mainland is a positive option. Better care would be provided anywhere in the mainland.
Lacking proper identification, a letter for airport security and escorting them to their seat would assure better care with family members on the mainland.
We have to do something! Otherwise, it’ll be time to bulldoze downtown pretty soon.
We know the tiny homes projects don’t work. They are far too problematic for nonprofit agencies to manage.
This idea, combined with many 90-day sentences, at least approaches the problem from a direction far better than a prison cell. And done well, it should be cheaper.
Don’t just talk about a problem, do something about it! Think it over. This idea could work.
Michael Mamczarz
Kurtistown
Kudos to reporter for energy article
I just wanted to say the article, “Energy strategy questioned,” by Michael Brestovansky (Tribune-Herald, Oct. 18) I thought did a great job of covering the important facts that Mike Ewall delivered and explained it well.
We should be using energy that is green and proven to be viable, as well as using proven strategies to reduce waste.
Sunny Seal-LaPlante
Pepeekeo