Moylan hits Leon Guerreros' administration's failure to address growing homelessness


By Jayvee Vallejera
Attorney General Douglas Moylan has doubled down on his criticism of the Leon-Guerrero administration’s approach to Guam homelessness, describing it as another example of the "excuses mentality" that has caused the continuing deterioration of the territory’s quality of life in the last six years.
Moylan has recommended the creation of a transition site—a temporary staging area where Guam’s homeless could be brought and housed in military-grade tents, where they could avail themselves of needed services—whether that is to find a job (even if just for day labor), addiction rehabilitation, or mental health—and where they could shower, wash clothes, and get a hot meal.
This is central to Moylan's “Dignity Project,” an initiative that aims to give a helping hand to Guam’s homeless.

An ideal location for this transition site, he said, is the government land in Adelup in front of the Office of the Governor. “That land is expansive and centrally located,” he said.
Another choice would be a closed school if a partial occupancy permit is possible, he added.
Taking all homeless persons to a central location would allow the government to clear out all homeless encampments so they cannot be used again, Moylan said, resulting in clearing out all homeless encampments in Guam’s 19 villages.
This will also create a centralized location where government agencies and non-profit groups could work on helping affected persons. “Anyone who wants help will receive it; otherwise they will be forced to follow our laws. Work for these poor is integral to success,” Moylan said.
By day, government agencies could help the homeless get Guam IDs, other logistics, documents and all the things they need to land more permanent jobs; other departments can generate day work as well.
In the evening, they would have a meal, a place to clean up and sleep. In the morning they would have a light breakfast before they go off to work.
“This is the design of our Dignity Project, which is in the process of being bid out (funded by the Opioid Council),” Moylan said.
The transition site would also have substance abuse professionals available for those wanting the help, he added. “Meth addicts can and should be working.
They are functional human beings and they can receive treatment as well during this time.”
Moylan cited the success of the relocation efforts his office took part in in 2023, when a team composed of the Office of the Attorney General, Mayors’ Council of Guam, and the Office of the Lt. Governor dismantled up the Micronesia Mall Homeless Encampment in Dededo.
He has urged Gov. Leon-Guerrero to reconvene the relocation team so they could resume efforts to clear out homeless encampments and get help for affected individuals.
Moylan said his proposed transition site is intended to combat Guam's growing homelessness and the culture of homelessness and lawlessness that violates people's property rights and right to a safe and sanitary quality of life.
He describes homeless encampments as dangerous, unsanitary, damaging to Guam’s tourism economic engine, and containing dens of meth addicts rejected by their friends and family.
But instead of facing this problem head-on, the Office of the Governor has been trotting out excuses, which Moylan said, “epitomizes the ‘ivory tower’ mentality in which this elected chief executive has mismanaged healthcare, education and public safety.”
Krystal Paco-San Agustin, communications director at the Office of the Governor of Guam, had enumerated drawbacks to Moylan’s staging site proposal, citing Hawaii’s experience during Camp Omar in 1992, with issues like illness, crime and the strain on government resources.
Moylan dismissed her arguments as "just another excuse reflecting poor leadership."
“Talking about the problem, creating excuses why they can't act, and not thinking of an effective solution is why this governor consistently fails,” he added.
Moylan said his proposal is built around finding dignity in work and getting a job like everyone else. He pointed out that most of those persons in the encampments are mentally fit and physically capable of employment, including those who are substance addicted.
“Our people demand that people who can work, work; those who need a helping hand may receive temporary help, then get back to work, those who are unable to work will receive the assistance needed (i.e. mentally ill be institutionalized); and those who can but are unwilling to work receive the bad consequences that result in life from refusing to be part of this community,” he said.
Citing the work the Homeless Relocation Team did in 2023, Moylan said they have already shown it can be done and they don’t need to look at other past models to come up with a solution.
“Leaders create models, whilst followers copy someone else’s. We need a governor and Cabinet team that can create a model that fixes our homeless problem and improves all our quality of life,” he said.
He said the Leon-Guerrero administration’s approach turns an indigenous culture that prides itself on hard work, self-respect, and island warmth, to an island of beggars and homeless who can pop up a tent anywhere they want.
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