Journal Staff
Efforts to address homelessness in Guam continue to evolve with a focus on expanding shelter options, addressing substandard living conditions, and providing services for vulnerable populations. However, challenges remain, particularly as shelters struggle with overcrowding and barriers to supporting those with mental health and substance abuse issues.
Limited shelter capacity and rising living costs exacerbate the problem, with an estimated 1,200 people experiencing homelessness in 2024 and fewer than 100 available beds. Aja Ramos, co-chairperson of the Guam Homeless Coalition, stressed the importance of affordable housing to prevent further homelessness. “Affordable housing is extremely important, because that’s what keeps people in homes,” she said.
Robert San Agustin, GHC’s other co-chairperson, advocated for a “housing first” approach, where individuals are placed in stable housing before addressing other issues. “If you’re out on the street and you’re just trying to eat…¦you can’t focus on anything but that,” he said.
Emergency shelters and transitional housing programs funded through partnerships with the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority aim to meet immediate needs. However, Ramos warned that these efforts are insufficient. “There aren’t enough [services]. We’d be pressed to have 100 beds.”
Barriers like lack of identification and transportation complicate access to services. San Agustin said, “They know they need treatment, but it can be too much of a hassle to get transportation for those trying to receive services.”
Moylan launched the Pan Buster Mobile initiative on Jan. 24, live-streaming confrontations with panhandlers on YouTube alongside law enforcement officials. The effort includes officers from the AG’s office issuing citations to panhandlers, requiring them to appear in court and pay fines. A release from the AG’s office said, “Get off our roadways and get a job!”
He also highlighted the devastating role of methamphetamine abuse in contributing to homelessness. “A lot of the people you see on the street, their families pushed them out of their homes and became homeless because of the meth.” Moylan stressed the need for accountability and results in addressing the crisis. “I don’t like excuses,” he said. “Take them out of that situation, either you’re going to work to better yourself or if you’re violating the law, the law will come down.”
Ramos emphasized Guam’s cultural values of care and support. “People who are homeless aren’t necessarily criminals unless we make them [that],” she said, calling for dignity in tackling homelessness. “The faces of homelessness are children, people living in substandard housing, sometimes even on family land or on a ranch.”
She called for innovative solutions that align with Guam’s cultural traditions, such as affordable 3D-printed homes. Perhaps the solution isn’t just to build more shelters,” she said. “Maybe it’s something different that builds on that cultural peace, that connection to the land.” “What I love about our community are our values,” Ramos said. “This conversation is bringing us back to our values of caring for each other, of helping, which is really innate in our culture.”
While progress has been made, such as collaborative efforts through the Office of Homelessness and Poverty Prevention, San Agustin said gaps remain. “We just have to keep reassessing to make sure that we understand the gaps that are there.”
Homeless encampments, like those near Harmon Loop, pose public health risks due to unsanitary conditions. Ramos emphasized, “The services are there, ¦but there aren’t enough.”
On Jan. 23, OHAPP in partnership with the Department of Public Works, Guam Police Department, and nonprofit organizations, cleared the homeless encampment along Rt. 16 in Harmon. DPW crews removed debris and hazardous materials from the site, while outreach teams provided resources to address housing insecurity.
San Agustin underscored the critical importance of sustained case management. “You can’t just pop someone into a house and they’re fine,” he said. Ongoing support helps individuals stay housed and navigate challenges. He also noted how vulnerable many are. “We’re all one tragedy away from being homeless.”
Efforts to create long-term housing solutions are advancing. At an interagency meeting discussing homelessness and poverty prevention initiatives, GHURA Director Elizabeth Napoli shared updates on key projects, including repairs to the Anigua apartments and the Iriarte drop-in shelter in Tamuning, which is expected to open soon. The Emergency Rental Assistance program, which has already distributed $42.3 million in aid since the pandemic, will continue until September 2025.
Additionally, Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero, through executive order established a Division of Homelessness and Poverty Prevention within Public Health. DPHSS director Theresa Arriola said, “We are working together to ensure that the health, housing, and social services people need are addressed in concert.”
Community-based efforts remain vital. Sinajana Mayor Robert Hoffman noted his offices’ work with the Emergency Food Assistance Program to provide food, hygiene kits, and homeless verifications.
Despite progress, challenges remain. The closure of the Liheng Sinafu homeless shelter in October left a gap in resources, but agencies are working to ensure continuity of care for displaced residents. “The individuals who were in shelter were notified and housing is still being identified, and individuals are still being placed, said Katherine Taitano, chief planner of GHURA. “We’ve identified the units. That’s how far into the process we are.”
While the closure was due to a property owner’s decision not to renew the rental agreement, the shelter made a lasting impact, Taitano said. “A large number of folks ended up reuniting with family members and getting placements with their extended families.” For others, case management remains critical, especially for the elderly and those requiring medical care. “The case management stood up and has been and will continue,” she said, noting that funding for services extends through March.
As of Jan. 9, Guam’s emergency and transitional shelters are addressing diverse needs in the community, including services for veterans, domestic violence survivors, and youth.
Notable shelters include the Alee Shelter, operated by Catholic Social Services, which currently houses 25 individuals across eight households with no waitlist. Guma Sindalu, also managed by Catholic Social Services, serves veterans exclusively, accommodating four individuals without a waitlist. Meanwhile, Guma San Jose provides emergency shelter for various household types, hosting 43 people but with 115 on the waitlist.
Other facilities, such as Guma Serenidad for adults over 60 and those with disabilities, and the Basic Center Program for youth under 18, report no enrolled clients currently. Emergency Housing Assistance, funded through the SSVF Rapid Rehousing project, supports six individuals in its veteran program.
Guam’s shelters currently provide support for various populations, including veterans, seniors, and families escaping abuse. Facilities like Guma San Jose and the Alee Shelter house dozens of individuals, but long waiting lists highlight the urgent need for more resources. “Do I feel that we have sufficient shelter options? We still do not have sufficient shelter options,” Tenorio said.
Addressing homelessness requires more than shelters, according to Taitano, who emphasized the importance of the Emergency Solutions Grant, which funds prevention and rehousing efforts. “This funding goes out to a lot of our partner NGOs who provide the services needed by persons that are homeless or at risk of homelessness,” she said.
Tenorio acknowledged that not everyone seeks shelter placement due to rules prohibiting alcohol or incidents of violence. “We have people that have been eligible for placement that they do not want to take shelter because they don’t want to follow the shelter rules,” he said.
Programs like Bed for the Night aim to fill gaps by providing temporary shelter and health screenings. “It’s a critical piece because there are people that maybe they’re not looking for a long-term [solution], but Bed for the Night will also mean showers and health screenings,” Tenorio said.
Prevention remains a key focus, with GHURA and the Guam Homeless Coalition adopting a “no-wrong-door” approach to services. “If we’re able to stabilize anyone that’s coming into homelessness, we won’t have that overflow situation,” said Taitano.
Despite the challenges, Taitano remains optimistic. “We’re very much in support of being able to provide those connected services” she said.
For Luke and Julian, both experiencing homelessness, say they feel the government’s efforts to address their needs have fallen short, leaving them to survive as best as they can on the streets.
The Journal spoke with them before the homeless encampment in Harmon was cleared.
Luke, who has been homeless for three years, expressed frustration with the lack of support. “The government has failed us,” he said. “I haven’t received government services.” On his birthday, he was panhandling, and he said, “Today, Christmas, holidays, every day is the same.”
Julian recalled a more negative experience with the authorities. “The only government that came around was [the Guam Police Department] harassing us,” Julian said. “I posted on social media about GPD and now, ever since I did that, GPD stopped bothering us.”
Julian criticized the government’s efforts, particularly those of Gov. Leon Guerrero. “What is the government doing? The governor, she says that she is going to help the homeless as much as they can. And then, since she became governor, where’s the help?” He said shelters meant for the homeless are often repurposed for business use. “The places that are supposed to be for the homeless, end up getting taken away and given to someone else for businesses.”
For Luke and Julian, panhandling is a crucial source of income, especially for those who face disabilities and find it difficult to secure jobs. “Some of us can’t get jobs. We’re disabled,” Julian said. “We’re just making do with what has been given to us. Whatever is donated by the residents, the public, we do what we can with it. We’re just surviving.”
Julian’s life took a turn after family conflicts left him homeless nearly a year ago. “Well, I had a problem with my sister and her boyfriend. They kicked me out. And my ex-girlfriend left me ever since I got kicked out,” he said. “So, they practically put me here with no help.”
Julian faces additional challenges due to his disability, which includes seizures and arthritis. Despite this, he is determined to survive. “I do what I need to do to survive,” he said, adding that his family helps when they can. “I can’t stay with my family because they have families of their own. They have obligations that they have to focus on.”
Luke also struggles with health issues that affect his mobility and speech, making it difficult for him to stand for long periods.
Both men see panhandling as an essential means of survival, but they say the government’s actions, including efforts by the attorney general to limit panhandling, have made their lives even harder. “With the AG trying to stop the panhandling, it’s making it harder for us to do what we need to do to survive, to get what we need, food, water, clothes,” Julian said. “The law says that as long as you’re doing it safely and have a permit, and you have a reflector jacket, then we can keep panhandling,” Julian said. “The AG, he just doesn’t like us.”
Luke expressed frustration with government priorities. “Most of these guys need more help. Yeah, all of us out here, we need more assistance,” he said. Julian echoed his sentiment, “We’re trying to ask them for help, but they still just don’t get it to their head,” he said. Some of them (government) are saying that they’re willing to help us, but most of the folks don’t come to help us, only to harass us. We’re sick of it!” Julian explained that broken promises from the government have left many in his situation without hope. “They make promises to the people, and they don’t fulfill them,” he said. “We wouldn’t be in this situation if we got the help they promised us.”
Despite this, Luke expressed gratitude for the kindness he receives from people who help him. “I’m thankful for the people that are helping us,” Luke said. “It shows that they have a kind heart, and they know how we feel, even though they’ve never been in our situation.”
Luke and Julian have been relying on the generosity of others for over a year together. “It depends on the day,” Luke said. “If they’re in a giving mood, then you make more (money). If they don’t give us, it’s ok.” Julian said, “Sometimes we make, sometimes we don’t. We make a little, but not much. Enough just to eat.”
Despite their hardship, Luke and Julian said it’s important they look out for one another. “We’re just like family, we take care of each other,” Luke said. We share it, or we just sometimes go and buy drinks or whatever to eat and share with the others.”
The journal did follow up with Luke after GHC cleared the encampment in Harmon, however he declined to comment.
Robert San Agustin, GHC co-chairperson; offered an analogy when discussing the complexities of addressing homelessness. “If we’re talking about the continuum of homelessness in general, I use the analogy of a sink with the faucets on and it’s going, and then it starts overflowing,” he said. “What I guess people mostly see or focus their attention on is the part that’s overflowing. And so, we spend all our energy trying to stop this overflow, but the real problem should be where the water’s coming in.” He underscored the importance of early intervention to prevent individuals from falling deeper into homelessness. “If we’re able to take care of that, if we’re able to stabilize anyone that’s coming into homelessness we won’t have that overflow situation.” mbj