Ask the Mayor: What’s Going on With the Homeless Situation?
Shopping carts belonging to homeless individuals in the vacant lot next to the Family Life Center in Kahului. Photo by Wendy Osher.
Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his office staff.
Aloha Mayor,
Q: What’s going on with the homeless situation? I thought you had some big plan for helping them out. They’re still everywhere in Wailuku town, Pā‘ia, Kīhei and Lahaina. Please do something.
A: In late November, we did transmit to our County Council members five proposed “nuisance” laws and a budget amendment that would give us the funds we needed to purchase rapid deployable shelters that would provide some much needed housing for the 1,800 unsheltered members of our homeless population that we have here on Maui.
Although the nuisance laws made it on the council agenda, the budget amendment is not. Until the council puts it on the agenda, has discussions on it and approves the proposed budget amendment, the county is unable to put anything into motion.
If you are concerned that we need to move quickly on issue this, please contact Council Chairman Mike White and let him know. He can be reached at 270-5507 or mike.white@mauicounty.us.
Want to Ask the Mayor?
Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.
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