City funds homeless medical respite centers after state cuts
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The City and County of Honolulu is funding two medical respite centers for homeless residents after state lawmakers ended support.
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The Leahi Behavioral and Medical Respite Center in Kaimuki and the Aala Respite and Urgent Care in Chinatown could have been forced to shut down this week if the city didn’t step up, potentially sending 84 patients to hospitals or urgent care centers.
Patients describe impact
Patients described repeated hospitalizations before arriving at the facilities. The respite centers have full time medical staff.
“I rode a number of ambulances and I’ve been to all the hospitals,” said Gerald Hamada, a 78-year old with a heart condition and rheumatoid arthritis. He lived in Ala Moana Beach Park before he found the respite center. He had his wallet stolen and couldn’t afford to get to doctor appointments.
A 60-year old woman, who didn’t want her name used, said she was living in her car after medical bills left her homeless. The wheelchair-bound woman was discharged from the hospital but still unable to walk.
Ronald Nakanishi credited the Leahi center with his recovery after brain cancer left the 57-year old unable to work. “This place rehabilitated me. They got me all my drugs. They got me food every day,” Nakanishi said.
Nakanishi said the staff also helped him find permanent housing. He’s expected to move in to a rental place in Pearl City later this week.
State cuts threatened closures
There are currently 22 patients at Leahi. The Aala Respite Center is at capacity with 62 patients.
Both centers were in danger of closing this week after state lawmakers cut $8 million in funding. The City and County of Honolulu responded with approximately $3.5 million to keep the programs running.
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“We found enough money for this whole fiscal year,” said Anton Krucky, director of the city’s Office of Housing and Homelessness, “So what I’m going to have to do is some contract extensions, move things around. But we decided that it was a higher priority for those two locations because they were already beds in place.”
Centers ease pressure on hospitals and 911 systems
Physicians connected to the centers said the facilities reduce emergency room crowding and cut down on EMS calls.
“These are the people that are filling up the emergency rooms in Queen’s hospital right now,” said Dr. Scott Miscovich. “We’re probably approaching $40 million in savings from all the stoppages of the EMS calls and the unnecessary ER visits.”
Dr. James Ireland, Honolulu Emergency Services Department director, said patients at the centers would otherwise cycle back to the streets after hospital stays.
“There’d be nowhere to go,” Ireland said, noting that the centers offer patients shelter while they receive medical care.
Both centers also offer drug detox programs.
Expansion plans on hold
The city’s decision to redirect funding does come with a trade-off. Plans to add a second HONU outreach program on the island are now on hold.
Both respite centers plan to expand at some point but will need continued funding to do so.
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