REQUESTING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU AND STATEWIDE OFFICE ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED, PLACE-BASED STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE NEEDS ON THE WAIANAE COAST.

HR108

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

108

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the
City and County of Honolulu and statewide
office on homelessness and housing solutions to develop a coordinated,
place-based strategic action plan to address behavioral health and homelessness
response needs on the waianae coast
.

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WHEREAS, according
to the 2024 Point in Time Count, there have been significant increases in the
number of homeless individuals and in the number of unsheltered individuals on
Oahu since 2023; and

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WHEREAS, of
the 4,494 persons experiencing homelessness on Oahu on January 22, 2024, the
largest concentration of homeless individuals was on the Waianae Coast, over
half of whom were classified as chronically homeless; and

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WHEREAS, despite
having the highest concentration of homeless individuals on Oahu, there are
only six shelter programs operating in the Waianae Coast region; and

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WHEREAS,
behavioral health and substance use disorders are among the leading causes of
homelessness for individuals on Oahu and should be a core component of any
effort to address homelessness on the Waianae Coast; and

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WHEREAS, developing
a unified, intergovernmental plan would ensure shared priorities, improved
coordination of services, more efficient use of resources, and better outcomes
for individuals experiencing homelessness and behavioral health crises on the
Waianae Coast; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the
City and County of Honolulu and
Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions are requested to develop
a coordinated, place-based strategic action plan to address behavioral health
and homelessness response needs on the Waianae coast
; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the strategic action plan is requested to include:

����
(1)
�
An analysis of behavioral health related emergency
calls and response times;

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(2)
�
An evaluation of emergency room utilization
related to psychiatric crises originating from the Waianae Coast;

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(3)
�
An assessment of current crisis stabilization
bed capacity and diversion resources;

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(4)
�
Identification of high-need geographic zones
and service gaps;

����
(5)
�
An evaluation of coordination between outreach
teams, behavioral health providers, and first responders;

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(6)
�
A feasibility analysis of establishing a
regional crisis stabilization or triage center, including potential sites,
partnership models, and funding sources; and

����
(7)
�
Identification of statutory or budgetary
changes necessary to improve outcomes; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the
City and County of Honolulu and Statewide Office on Homelessness
and Housing Solutions are requested to engage with community-based service
providers serving the Waianae Coast region when developing the strategic action
plan
; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the
City and County of Honolulu and Statewide Office on Homelessness
and Housing Solutions are requested to submit a report of their findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027
;
and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and Homeless Coordinator for the
City and
County of Honolulu
.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

Waianae
Coast; Homelessness; Strategic Action Plan;
City and County of Honolulu;
Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions