With building-relocation done and reconstruction just starting, Kaua‘i’s first government-sponsored shelter for the homeless could open by fall, Mayor Bryan Baptiste said. Meeting with reporters in his office at the Lihu‘e Civic Center Friday, Baptiste said Kikiaola Construction Co. has
With building-relocation done and reconstruction just starting, Kaua‘i’s first government-sponsored shelter for the homeless could open by fall, Mayor Bryan Baptiste said.
Meeting with reporters in his office at the Lihu‘e Civic Center Friday, Baptiste said Kikiaola Construction Co. has finished relocating three portable buildings from an area by the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall to the two-acre shelter site off Haleko Road in Lihu‘e.
And Kaua‘i Builders is expected to finish renovations on the buildings — including two former school buildings — by summer.
Upon completion, the emergency shelter will house up to 19 persons, while a transitional housing portion will accommodate up to 20.
Baptiste acknowledged there are probably hundreds of homeless on Kaua‘i and that the shelter cannot help all, yet the project is a first step toward easing homelessness.
“It is not a magic bullet,” he said. “It is something that is simply a part of what we need to do to get the problem fixed.”
Kaua‘i Builders has already gutted the interior of the buildings, and the next step involves the installation of partitions to create separate living units, said county public information officer Mary Daubert.
Kaua‘i Builders has successfully blended the architectural designs of the structures, two of which were part of the former Lihue Grammar School, officials said.
The three portable buildings have a modern look to them.
“Things are looking good,” said James Nishida with Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity Inc., which will operate the shelters. “You can already see how well the architect, Agor Design Group, integrated the design of all the buildings.”
Local architect Ron Agor designed the complex at no cost to the county.
Kaua‘i Builders will be tasked with installing ramps and walkways to comply with the American with Disabilities Act), bathrooms, a laundry room, electrical wiring, windows, drywall and woodwork, as well as putting in a septic system and painting, project superintendent Ben Esteban said in a statement.
Baptiste said he expects the shelters to be safety nets for the homeless who have no place to go.
The project is being funded with more than $2 million in federal and state funds, and the county has administered $650,000 in capital improvement funds from the Legislature.
At the request of Baptiste, Gov. Linda Lingle transferred the project site to the county through an executive order.
Eligibility for the transitional housing program will be determined through KEO’s intake process, Daubert said.
After an initial assessment, a case manager will conduct a separate, more detailed appraisal of the needs of individuals and families and will track their progress monthly, or more frequently if needed, she said.
Case managers will help program participants link up with essential services, including financing, budgeting counseling, child care, education, employment and housing, Daubert said.
