Episode 26: The Department of Community Services
On this episode of the One O'ahu Podcast, Department of Community Services Director Anton Krucky joins host Brandi Higa to explain the City’s Affordable Housing Fund, approaches to engaging with our homeless population, and how relationship-building is key to finding a solution when it comes to free feeding programs.
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The Department of Community Services (DCS) administers programs to meet the human services, workforce and housing needs of economically challenged individuals and families with special needs in the City and County of Honolulu. The department also administers state and federal funds intended to facilitate community and economic development for economically challenged neighborhoods and communities.
The Affordable Housing Fund
One of the funding sources DCS oversees is the City’s Affordable Housing Fund. The Affordable Housing Fund builds up from 0.5% of tax payer’s property taxes or a pace of about $9 million a year.
“I have no idea why but when I first got to this department, we had $40 million in that fund,” explained DCS Director Anton Krucky. He went on to explain, “I said, I’m not just going to put out the $9 million, we’re going to put it all out. And so we have some nice projects that we were doing.”
In August of 2022, DCS announced its list of six eligible projects that would produce 972 affordable housing units within five years. The total award amount from the Affordable Housing Fund for those six projects is $28,172,989.
Engaging with our homeless population
There are many services to help those living on the streets and in their cars, but not every individual is willing to accept help. On this episode of the One O‘ahu Podcast, Director Krucky talks about approaches to this situation.
“There are two ways of looking at the issues,” said Director Krucky. “The first is, what are the creative ways that we can come up with that would get somebody to engage with the system?” The DCS Director continued, “the second part of that is what resources do I have, what have I put in place that will service those decisions?”
For helpful numbers to homelessness services and help, visit: https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ohou/FINAL_ONE_PAGE_2020_Oahu_Homeless_Help_Card_REV_08.20.pdf
Free meals for the homeless
Feeding programs on O‘ahu have led to complaints that the free meals are attracting homeless individuals, some of whom are urinating and defecating on the sidewalks, consuming alcohol in public, and harassing people. On this episode of the podcast, Director Krucky explains how relationship-building can play a role in finding a solution.
“When you’re an organization doing that, you really want to think about the line, ‘Are you enabling or are you helping?’” explained Krucky.
He went on to describe approaches that have seen success where individuals and families were provided direct help to resources, along with meals and other services. This gave them a much better chance to improve their situations.
