YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER BUT YOU CAN NOT FORCE IT TO DRINK

James

James could be a poster child for Hawaii's Chronic Homeless.  James says he has been living rough for the past 6 years.  From living in a van to sleeping on a bench at The Bus Stop.

Tuesday last, James made his way to hospital to get some treatment for his leg.  James had waited until he could not walk and the pain was too much to bear.  To his credit, James made his way painfully to Queen's Medical Center.  The leg was so swollen and infected, it required cutting his trouser leg to get to.

Seeing this as a golden opportunity to get some sort of housing for James, I rang up Marc Alexander, IHS bigwig, to see if he might be able to do something to help James.  Mr. Alexander did not hesitate to provide some help.  It was set up for James to chat with a person who deals with folks in crisis.

Unfortunately, having told James that someone would ring him, he took to not answering the telephone in his room.  Told me that he could not abandon a friend he helps on the street.  Told me this after his being told by social worker at Queen's that his options upon release from hospital were limited.

James will have his infection treated, his leg will go down in size, and he will return to living uncovered on the streets of Waikiki.  His choice.

It is not my place to question James' sanity.  Mind, readers are ever so clever and you already have put together that James is 'not full quid'.

The local newspaper had another article about homeless in this morning's paper.  Regardless of the numbers, the director of US VETS sees positive things in them.  Thinks the increase may well be due to the counting of the homeless being more accurate.  What a lot of tosh.

James is a member of that 'chronic homeless population' that has yet to get shelter.  His 'friend' is another member of that population.  Between the two, hospital costs increase due to the unhealthy nature of their life style.  This time out it is just a week or so for James.  Last Christmas, James' friend spent 45 days in hospital due to a failed suicide attempt.

The article in the local paper contained quotes from a 32 year old, who is homeless.  "I hate Hawaii" and "I am here because it is a good place to be homeless".  Wonder if we can set up a collection to help the poor bugger return to where ever he came from.

I am not pleased that James will not accept help.  I will continue to chip away at that attitude.  I am proud that I know someone like Marc Alexander.  Am not known for being fond of IHS, but that did not stop the man from offering to help.  I wish the local newspaper would do more than to keep rehashing old news.  Look for information outside of usual sources.