Controversial law forcing homeless off streets puts some on path to healing

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A 72-year-old woman who spent years living on the streets of Chinatown now has her own room at the Leahi Behavioral and Medical Respite center in Kaimuki — one of the first positive outcomes tied to Hawaii’s new MH-3 program.

Mary Del Rosario was transported for services during the pilot program for the new law, which took effect in January.

The MH-3 program pairs CORE — the Community Outreach Response and Engagement unit — with law enforcement to mandate a person be transported for a medical or mental health evaluation, even without their consent.

‘She didn’t think she was going to get better’

Del Rosario said she had been a victim of crime in her decade at Sun Yat Sen park in Chinatown…

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