HR 88: REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S COORDINATOR ON HOMELESSNESS AND THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ESTABLISH A TWO-YEAR HOMELESSNESS SANCTUARY PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A SAFE LOCATION ON PUBLIC LAND FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO RESIDE AND ACCESS SERVICES.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S COORDINATOR ON HOMELESSNESS AND THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ESTABLISH A TWO-YEAR HOMELESSNESS SANCTUARY PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A SAFE LOCATION ON PUBLIC LAND FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO RESIDE AND ACCESS SERVICES.

     WHEREAS, homelessness is a significant problem across the State; and

     WHEREAS, on the island of Oahu in particular, there is a large population of unsheltered individuals, many of whom suffer from issues relating to mental health or drug use; and

     WHEREAS, many homeless individuals have been cited or arrested for being in public parks after hours, trespassing, or illegally camping on sidewalks and other public areas; and

     WHEREAS, this trend demonstrates that homeless families and individuals need a stable location to live in safety and with dignity; and

     WHEREAS, one way to create this safe and stable location is to establish sanctuary locations where homeless individuals and families can safely live, sleep, and access services; and

     WHEREAS, providing consistent access to social services at these sanctuaries will put homeless individuals and families in a better position to escape the cycle of homelessness; and

     WHEREAS, providing access for mental health services and substance abuse treatment could encourage participation in those programs; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to services from public agencies, local nonprofit organizations, churches and other faith-based organizations, and businesses can also be service partners, ensuring broad-based, community-driven support; and

     WHEREAS, it is imperative that the State and City and County of Honolulu take immediate action to establish sanctuaries through a two-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program to determine the feasibility of this approach; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and the City and County of Honolulu are requested to establish a two-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program to provide a safe location on public land for homeless individuals and families to reside and access services; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, no later than November 1, 2025, the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to designate a specific location on state or county land for the homelessness sanctuary pilot program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state or county agency having jurisdiction over the pilot program site is requested to work with the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness to ensure that the location has sufficient infrastructure to support the pilot program and minimize adverse impacts on the environment, including to nearshore resources such as corals, reef fish, and seabirds; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to coordinate with the Department of Human Services, City and County of Honolulu, and other agencies, to:

     (1)  Open the location for habitation and provision of services no later than January 1, 2026;

     (2)  Provide the following facilities at the designated location:

          (A)  A central tent for shelter;

          (B)  A parking area at which residents may park their vehicles and sleep in their vehicles, if the residents choose to do so;

          (C)  Restroom and shower facilities;

          (D)  Lockers and storage space;

          (E)  Laundry facilities; and

          (F)  Solid waste collection and disposal;

     (3)  Allow for residents to set up additional, individual tents as needed by the residents;

     (4)  Partner with nonprofit organizations and other entities to provide at least one meal per day to each resident;

     (5)  Allow residents to be accompanied by pet animals;

     (6)  Establish volunteer and employment opportunities in which residents are paid at least the minimum wage; provided that to the extent possible, volunteer and employment opportunities are requested to focus on clean-up activities, vegetation control, painting, and other tasks for which the state and county governments are experiencing a backlog; and

     (7)  To the extent possible, establish a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs, violence, and obscenities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to survey residents to determine other facilities and services that residents need or desire, including:

     (1)  Workshop areas for job training;

     (2)  Education opportunities;

     (3)  Gardening;

     (4)  Child care to allow residents with children to seek and maintain employment;

     (5)  Transportation for children to attend school; and

     (6)  Transportation for residents to access bus and rail services and more easily access their places of employment; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, subject to available funds, the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and the Coordinator's partner agencies are requested to offer facilities and services identified by residents as high priority needs or desires; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to contract with qualified churches, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and other entities to establish and operate the homelessness sanctuary pilot program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Sessions of 2026, 2027, and 2028, the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to submit a report to the Legislature that includes:

     (1)  Progress that the State and City and County of Honolulu have made in establishing the homelessness sanctuary pilot program;

     (2)  The number of homeless individuals and families served by the pilot program;

     (3)  An evaluation of the homelessness sanctuary pilot program to determine whether the objectives of the program have been met or exceeded;

     (4)  An assessment of the impact of the homelessness sanctuary pilot program on the homelessness problem in Hawaii;

     (5)  A recommendation of whether the homelessness sanctuary pilot program should be made permanent and, if so, an estimate of the amount of funding needed to sustain the pilot program; and

     (6)  Any other findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to terminate the homelessness sanctuary pilot program on December 31, 2027; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Director of Human Services, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, and Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council.

Report Title:

Homelessness Sanctuary Pilot Program; Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; DHS; City and County of Honolulu

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Requesting the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and THE City and County of Honolulu to establish a two-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program.

     WHEREAS, homelessness is a significant problem across the State; and

     WHEREAS, on the island of Oahu in particular, there is a large population of unsheltered individuals, many of whom suffer from issues relating to mental health or drug use; and

     WHEREAS, many homeless individuals have been cited or arrested for being in public parks after hours, trespassing, or illegally camping on sidewalks and other public areas; and

     WHEREAS, this trend demonstrates that homeless families and individuals need a stable location to live in safety and with dignity; and

     WHEREAS, one way to create this safe and stable location is to establish sanctuary locations where homeless individuals and families can safely live, sleep, and access services; and

     WHEREAS, providing consistent access to social services at these sanctuaries will put homeless individuals and families in a better position to escape the cycle of homelessness; and

     WHEREAS, providing access for mental health services and substance abuse treatment could encourage participation in those programs; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to services from public agencies, local nonprofit organizations, churches and other faith-based organizations, and businesses can also be service partners, ensuring broad-based, community-driven support; and

     WHEREAS, it is imperative that the State and City and County of Honolulu take immediate action to establish sanctuaries through a two-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program to determine the feasibility of this approach; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and the City and County of Honolulu are requested to establish a two-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program to provide a safe location on public land for homeless individuals and families to reside and access services; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, no later than November 1, 2025, the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to designate a specific location on state or county land for the homelessness sanctuary pilot program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state or county agency having jurisdiction over the pilot program site is requested to work with the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness to ensure that the location has sufficient infrastructure to support the pilot program and minimize adverse impacts on the environment, including to nearshore resources such as corals, reef fish, and seabirds; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to coordinate with the Department of Human Services, City and County of Honolulu, and other agencies, to:

     (1)  Open the location for habitation and provision of services no later than January 1, 2026;

     (2)  Provide the following facilities at the designated location:

          (A)  A central tent for shelter;

          (B)  A parking area at which residents may park their vehicles and sleep in their vehicles, if the residents choose to do so;

          (C)  Restroom and shower facilities;

          (D)  Lockers and storage space;

          (E)  Laundry facilities; and

          (F)  Solid waste collection and disposal;

     (3)  Allow for residents to set up additional, individual tents as needed by the residents;

     (4)  Partner with nonprofit organizations and other entities to provide at least one meal per day to each resident;

     (5)  Allow residents to be accompanied by pet animals;

     (6)  Establish volunteer and employment opportunities in which residents are paid at least the minimum wage; provided that, to the extent possible, volunteer and employment opportunities are requested to focus on clean-up activities, vegetation control, painting, and other tasks for which the state and county governments are experiencing a backlog; and

     (7)  To the extent possible, establish a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs, violence, and obscenities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to survey residents to determine other facilities and services that residents need or desire, including:

     (1)  Workshop areas for job training;

     (2)  Education opportunities;

     (3)  Gardening;

     (4)  Childcare to allow residents with children to seek and maintain employment;

     (5)  Transportation for children to attend school; and

     (6)  Transportation for residents to access bus and rail services and more easily access their places of employment; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, subject to available funds, the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and the coordinator's partner agencies are requested to offer facilities and services identified by residents as high priority needs or desires; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to contract with qualified churches, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and other entities to establish and operate the homelessness sanctuary pilot program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2026, 2027, and 2028, the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to submit a report to the Legislature that includes:

     (1)  Progress the State and City and County of Honolulu have made in establishing the homelessness sanctuary pilot program;

     (2)  The number of homeless individuals and families served by the program;

     (3)  An evaluation of the homelessness sanctuary pilot program to determine whether the objectives of the program have been met or exceeded;

     (4)  An assessment of the impact of the homelessness sanctuary pilot program on the homelessness problem in Hawaii;

     (5)  A recommendation of whether the homelessness sanctuary pilot program should be made permanent, and if so, an estimate of the amount of funding needed to sustain the program; and

     (6)  Any other findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to terminate the homelessness sanctuary pilot program on December 31, 2027; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Director of Human Services, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, and Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council.

Report Title:

Homelessness; Sanctuary Pilot Program; Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; DHS; City and County of Honolulu

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1603

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.R. No. 88

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.R. No. 88 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S COORDINATOR ON HOMELESSNESS AND THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ESTABLISH A TWO-YEAR HOMELESSNESS SANCTUARY PILOT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and the City and County of Honolulu to establish a two-year Homelessness Sanctuary Pilot Program to provide a safe location on public land for homeless individuals and families to reside and access services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from seven individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions.

     Your Committee finds that homelessness remains a critical issue across the State, particularly on Oahu, where a large number of unsheltered individuals face challenges related to mental health and substance abuse.  Many homeless individuals are frequently cited or arrested for violations such as trespassing or illegal camping, highlighting the urgent need for stable, safe locations where they can live with dignity while accessing essential services.  This measure requests the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and the City and County of Honolulu to establish a two-year Homelessness Sanctuary Pilot Program to provide designated sanctuary locations with access to social services, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment for homeless individuals and families.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its title to make technical amendments; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 88, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 88, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,