The Housing Omnibus Bill, which was passed by legislators and approved by Gov. Linda Lingle, addresses what she has outlined in her 10-year plan to deal with Hawai'i's chronic problem — homelessness.

The plan deals with access to appropriate, affordable, safe and decent housing; preventing individuals and families from becoming homeless; and decreasing barriers to housing.

Some provisions of the Housing Omnibus Bill will take effect July 1, and like the many shelters and programs, will be only temporary. Hawaii Helping the Hungry Have Hope (H5), Section 5 of the bill, will receive $500,000. This organization is now helping the homeless in Kaka'ako through the Next Step Project.

Several years ago, Wai'anae had a Weinberg Village. That, too, was temporary. What happened to those families that moved out? The beach?

In its place is Ke Aka Ho'ona, a self-help program. It is a beautiful subdivision with a recreational facility. Low-income families definitely benefit from this type of project. In addition, it makes them feel good about themselves. It gives them an "I can do" attitude.

Perhaps Kaka'ako also can be revitalized with these types of self-help programs. People who once lived in the Kaka'ako area were displaced and replaced with businesses.

The bill also provides the Nanakuli Housing Corp. with $350,000. People who have experience with the agency say this is an excellent program.

The state also plans to buy Kulana Nani apartments from the Kamehameha Schools as an affordable rental-housing project. I would have hoped that the state could also purchase Kukui Gardens so that elderly people who live there would not have to worry about what happens to them in the future.

Gov. Lingle, I quote from your letter of March 25-31: "Our goal is not just to house homeless people, our goals is to end homelessness." Please start with Kukui Gardens and other lower-income residential projects.

It's true that Hawai'i's taxpayers are overtaxed to support these types of programs and projects. But the homelessness issue is a complex problem that will never go away without our help — let's do what we can to keep it from becoming a socio-economic epidemic.