Letter To The Editor: Working Together For Those That Want And Need Help

JOSHUA F. TENORIO  
Lieutenant Governor of Guam

The government of Guam and non-governmental organizations involved in human services, faith-based organizations, our Mayors and Vice-Mayors, and community volunteers are working hard to address the complexities of homelessness. It is shocking and unsettling for some to see unsheltered people panhandling at busy intersections and roadsides on Guam. For many of us, this is a relatively new occurrence and is counter to the close-knit community environment we are used to. It is clear that some people need help. It is also clear that our people deserve to feel safe in their homes, businesses, public parks, and areas from crime, drugs, and violence.

Those engaged in the social work and human services professions have a mission to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. Those engaged in the law enforcement profession have a mission to serve the community by safeguarding lives and property against threats that could take advantage of or harm members of the community or otherwise impact peace and order. We must all strive for a balance rooted in compassion but ensure the community’s safety, which sometimes must include law enforcement responses that provide peace and order.

On Guam, the most vulnerable members of our community living in poverty are likely to experience poorer health outcomes and higher rates of chronic and non-communicable diseases. They are more likely to face stunted academic achievement and incomplete education, leading to unemployment and underemployment that further limits their ability to support themselves and their families. Some within the group are more susceptible to involvement in the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

This is why our current and long-term investments and efforts in early childhood development, job training programs, adult education, youth development programs, and housing stability must be supported and expanded. Much of my work in this regard has been focused on rescuing families and children in need and expanding programs that address the underlying causes of most homelessness, which include financial hardships, family alienation, substance abuse, criminality, and mental health challenges. We know that helping people so they can help themselves and others is the most effective approach.

On the front line of our effort is the battle against substance abuse and Guam’s three-decade-long experience with methamphetamine addiction. We are enabling and supporting effective peer support programs, chemical detox medical services, drug treatment programs, and new in-patient and out-patient drug treatment facilities. Our long-term goal is to expand treatment options throughout the island that are connected to housing support and gainful employment opportunities.

Another line of effort is focused on protecting and helping our children. Family alienation and substance abuse issues have challenged the core strengths of Guam’s families which are rooted in generosity, respect, and the obligations we have for our families and neighbors. With record numbers of children in the child welfare system, extended families are being called upon to provide the stability and support our children need. To address this, we are securing transitional housing units to help stabilize mothers in recovery and provide a pathway for court-approved reunification with their children.

For the chronic homeless population that have extraordinary challenges staying sheltered, or for those whose shelter options have been terminated for breaking the rules, we have acquired a bed-for-the-night facility that we are working tirelessly to open. Once building repairs are complete and the facility is open, street homeless will be able to receive nightly shelter and access to healthcare screening and assistance. When the Hagâtña Soup Kitchen facility was put up for sale by the Archdiocese of Agana as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, our government purchased the facility so the community support could continue.

There are also significant efforts underway to improve the delivery of mental health services at the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC), including those that need stabilization and assisted outpatient treatment. The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program operated by GBHWC at the Department of Corrections provides intensive drug treatment programs for those about to reenter the community from long periods of incarceration.

At the Department of Public Health and Social Services, our team is working to modernize the welfare benefits application process so that clients can receive food assistance and Medicaid approval more responsively and timely. More program support for childcare development programs and facilities is helping more families. The new Division of Homelessness Assistance and Poverty Prevention has assumed authority over The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which provides nutrition for residents throughout the island.

The Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities (DISID) is working to provide additional day programs for underserved clients. The Department of Youth Affairs offers more youth development programs and supports the Guam Police Department and the Department of Parks and Recreation. The Department of Labor, in conjunction with the Guam Community College and other institutions, is providing adult education programs, boot camps, and other job training programs focused on expanding our workforce. On the transportation and permanent housing front, we still have a ways to go that will require additional help and resources. Additionally, a significant number of affordable and attainable housing projects are being put into action by GHURA and Guam Housing Corporation.

Many non-profit organizations, churches, faith-based organizations, schools, and individuals are working tirelessly to assist people around the island. These efforts, combined with government support to secure facilities and support for programs designed to empower our people to stabilize and care for themselves and their families, must continue. But we must also expand the resources and programs that can prevent homelessness and, more importantly, provide our youth with the opportunities to break out of the cycle of poverty. This can be accomplished more effectively when we work together.