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Nonprofit proposes 75-bed federal reentry center at vacant South King Street building
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Summary
Dismas Charities and its partners presented plans to adaptively reuse a five‑story vacant building at 1857 South King Street as a federally contracted residential reentry center for up to 75 residents, stressing security, employment requirements and local staffing; the project will submit a conditional‑use permit to the Department of Planning and Permitting.
Dismas Charities and its planning partner Group 70 outlined plans to open a federally contracted residential reentry center at 1857 South King Street that would house up to 75 residents plus 25 home‑confinement participants.
The proposal, presented by Ethan McCown of Group 70 and Ellen Donnarumma, president and CEO of Dismas Charities, describes an adaptive reuse of a currently vacant five‑story building with two parking levels and three levels of residential/operational space. Donnarumma said the program would operate under Bureau of Prisons placement rules and run 24/7 with awake staff. “We are the largest provider of residential reentry services to the federal government,” Donnarumma said, describing the organization’s national experience and the evidence‑based programming it uses.
Community members pressed presenters on day‑to‑day operations and community integration. Dismas representatives said residents must be cleared by federal authorities for community placement, must participate in employment and programming, and will check in and out for work shifts; visitors and family contact are allowed on a pre‑approved basis rather than via casual drop‑ins.
The presenters said they do not expect significant exterior modifications, traffic or noise impacts, and that most services (meals, laundry, case management) would be handled on site. The project team said the application will be submitted as a conditional‑use permit to the Department of Planning and Permitting and that community questions raised at the meeting will be addressed in that process.
Supporters at the meeting noted the lack of a federal reentry residential center in Hawaii to date and urged culturally informed reintegration supports; a constituent asked how the center would serve Native Hawaiian returning residents. Dismas representatives said they intend to hire locally and to integrate local cultural programming and staff in program design.
The presentation was informational; no vote was taken. The neighborhood board will be provided the conditional‑use permit materials when they are filed, and public comment opportunities will follow DPP procedures.
