Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has announced the city’s plan to open a new facility next week, dedicated to addressing mental health issues.
The facility, located in the old First Hawaiian Bank building near A’ala Park, will be managed by the city’s CORE unit. This unit will focus on taking mentally unstable individuals off the streets and providing them with necessary care.
The facility will feature a full medical staff, including psychiatrists. The city purchased the building on North King Street for $8.4 million. It will offer 30 beds and have an additional 30 Kauhale units in the parking lot.
Mayor Blangiardi emphasized the importance of providing treatment for people suffering from conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. “We’re talking about taking them in for treatment. You know, there are a lot of people out there who are suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder who could be stabilized,” he said. “That person that’s lying on the street, or as you said, screaming at the moon. We’ve all seen that. It can be terrifying.”
Mersadis Perez, who sleeps outside the old bank building, witnesses these struggles daily. “They’ll be throwing things, or crying, or hugging the air … some of it is scary to watch,” she said.
The city has hired Dr. Scott Miscovitch, known for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic, to run the new facility. The project is a partnership between the city and the state, with federal subsidies being used to cover staff costs.
Mayor Blangiardi is committed to making a difference. “We are going to kick it into another gear. I’m not opposed to saying that if I’m driving around and see someone yelling at the moon, I should call CORE and tell them to pick them up,” he said.
In addition to this facility, the city plans to open another center with 100 beds at the Iwilei Center, purchased for $52 million.
Residents agree on the need for these facilities. “I think it’s needed because there is a lot of homeless and mental illness in this area,” one resident commented.
Recent data shows that Oahu has a 12% homelessness rate, equating to about 4,500 people. Mayor Blangiardi is particularly concerned about the “chronically homeless” and believes that the new shelters will provide the mental health support needed to help these individuals stay off the streets.
“We need to address the needs of people suffering from mental illness and addictions. These are often the toughest cases, the ones who resist rules. That’s where we need to focus our efforts,” he concluded.
