Safe Spaces effort is a good start
I’m writing in response to your article on “Safe Spaces,” which mostly focused on concerns raised by some Hilo Lagoon Center neighbors and business owners regarding the establishment of a temporary shelter near the state and county buildings in Hilo (Tribune-Herald, Feb. 25).
While I understand that the words “homeless camp” can evoke apprehension, supporting our most vulnerable people is not only a moral imperative but also essential for the well-being of our community.
It’s crucial to recognize that homelessness is not just a personal struggle but a systemic issue that requires collective action and compassion. By providing temporary shelter with the necessary support services, access to sanitation and security, we are taking the first step toward facilitating a transition towards long-term stable housing and self-sufficiency.
Contrary to fears about negative impacts, Safe Spaces is a start for a solution to a growing problem, particularly in downtown Hilo as highlighted by recent incidents of deaths and public births. Our local businesses have borne the brunt of our inaction for far too long, and our entire community has suffered.
Well-managed temporary safe spaces such as these can serve as catalysts for community development and economic growth by providing alternate locations to those currently sleeping in the doorways of our downtown businesses, thus allowing enjoyment of our downtown area by all.
Both downtown Hilo and the recently proposed Safe Space zone near my place of work are in my district. By setting up a space that is literally in our back yard, we county and state leaders will be confronted with this problem daily and be even more motivated to address this issue in an urgent and compassionate way.
There is no ideal location for a temporary shelter of this nature, but I commend the mayor’s administration for continuing to seek solutions to this growing concern.
Jenn Kagiwada
Hawaii County Council member, Hilo
It’s time for rent control in Hawaii
The minimum wage here in Hawaii is $14, but according to data provided from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the average wage necessary to afford a two-bedroom apartment would be $36.56 per hour.
At minimum wage, the work required to afford a two-bedroom apartment would be a whopping 122 hours per week.
Rent control would prevent rapid increases in rent that might otherwise force tenants out of their homes or consume a disproportionate amount of income. Rent control would contribute to a more stable community, preventing gentrification that would otherwise displace longtime residents.
From 2017-20, 42% of homes in Hawaii County were purchased by non-Hawaii residents. When people are not worried about being priced out of their homes due to rent, they can give back to the community and local economy.
Without rent control, landlords hold a significant amount of power and can exploit tenants by raising rents. Rent control laws could help prevent this exploitation and ensure an equitable relationship between the landlord and tenant, especially when it comes to more vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled and low-income families who are susceptible to housing insecurities.
Sage Huston
Hilo