Not all who live homeless lifestyle should be considered homeless
Confronting Homelessness
I have come to realize that very few people are speaking the same language when it comes to homelessness. Most of us believe that the people we see on the street and those sleeping in tents on the beach are homeless. Even though many are, not everyone living a homeless lifestyle should be considered homeless.
Before I go on, I would like to clarify what homelessness is. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to be homeless is: “having no home or permanent place of residence.” Even though this definition is true, it is not complete. A better definition would be to describe what constitutes homelessness.
For example, my definition would be: “Homelessness is caused when a person is unable to live in a permanent home because of circumstances that are out of their control.” This definition would eliminate some who we now think are homeless but in actuality are not. For example, people who have control of their living situation, such as those who are travelers, i.e., transients; those living off the grid; and those who are choosing to live a squatter’s lifestyle.
I recently became aware of the website squattheplanet.com, which offers advice and information for people who want to roam the planet and live on the resources they find there — literally living a squatter’s lifestyle. Information about Maui is on this website as well as other websites like it.
It is not always easy to identify the difference between a homeless person and a traveler, but with the compassionate response of outreach workers and Maui Police Department’s community policing, trust is developing and people are sharing their stories. When people are willing to share stories about their lives, it becomes much easier to find out if the individual needs or even wants help finding a home.
With the recent news coverage about Baldwin Beach Park, I think it is important to point out, that for years, months and weeks, outreach workers as well as community police have been compassionately reaching out to the people living at the park, offering relevant information as well as help finding homes. Of those who were residing at Baldwin Beach, less than 20 percent actually wanted to live in a home.
This is not the case for other areas on Maui where the people are (for the most part) homeless, making it important to recognize that Baldwin Beach and the Paia area in general are unique, with a large number of travelers who are there to enjoy windsurfing and the Paia lifestyle. For public safety, the illegal campers (travelers) needed to be compassionately encouraged to relocate, so that the community can once again enjoy Baldwin Beach Park.
This brings up the question: Where do these people go? That is really up to them. If they are homeless and want help, a caseworker will work with them, but it’s important to remember that we can’t make anyone move where we want them to go. They have to make that decision.
In the last year, over 671 homeless people were moved into a permanent home on Maui. This is important news! It shows that the Maui Homeless Alliance is doing an amazing job alleviating homelessness, even if you cannot readily see it. The Maui Homeless Alliance is a coalition of community leaders, nonprofit directors, police officers, government representatives and concerned citizens who are working tirelessly and collaboratively to alleviate the homeless concerns on Maui.
It is depressing to read and hear angry words that accuse our county government and nonprofit organizations of not doing anything about the homeless, especially since this is far from the truth.
There was a time when people would respectfully share concerns and ask questions, a time when people listening to others preceded judgment. I have come to realize that those who angrily point fingers are not seeking solutions, they are looking to place blame. How is this type of behavior constructive? There is an old saying: “If you’re not part of the solution you are part of the problem.”
For those interested, the Homeless Alliance meets on the third Wednesday of each month at noon at Maui Economic Opportunity, 99 Mahalani St., Classroom No. 1.
* Joyce Kawakami is a full-time volunteer, founder and CEO of Feed My Sheep Inc. As an active member of the Maui Homeless Alliance, she chairs the Awareness Committee.