| 45 | | - | WHEREAS, homelessness is a critical issue in the State, directly impacting the lives of the 4,494 individuals currently experiencing homelessness and the well-being of their communities; and WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to address the public health and safety concerns related to homeless individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues, which increase the negative interactions with the public, including kupuna and keiki; and WHEREAS, homeless individuals residing in, on, or immediately adjacent to freshwater ways that lead to the ocean pose significant human and environmental risks, including through contamination of water sources and harm to marine life; and WHEREAS, trash and stolen shopping carts used by or left behind by homeless individuals contribute to environmental pollution and urban blight, further complicating efforts to maintain clean and safe communities; and WHEREAS, there are safety concerns associated with homeless individuals domiciled or encamped at bus stops or immediately in front of businesses or residences, which can affect public safety and access to services; and WHEREAS, there is a need to help homeless individuals get connected with necessary supportive services to improve their well-being and stability; and WHEREAS, there is continued support for the State's Kauhale Initiative to increase emergency and transitional homeless shelters, bridge programs, and permanent supportive housing; and WHEREAS, the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Department of Law Enforcement, county-level homeless coordinators, county law enforcement, and social services providers are vital stakeholders in addressing homelessness; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Department of Law Enforcement, homeless coordinators of each county, county law enforcement, and social services providers are requested to work collaboratively and effectively to address homelessness in Hawaii; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in collaborating to address homelessness in Hawaii, the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Department of Law Enforcement, homeless coordinators of each county, county law enforcement, and social services providers are requested to: (1) Prioritize the protection of human and environmental health by taking measures to prevent homeless encampments in, on, or immediately adjacent to freshwater ways that lead to the ocean; (2) Address the impact of trash and stolen shopping carts used by or left behind by homeless individuals, working to mitigate environmental pollution and urban blight; (3) Address the safety concerns associated with homeless individuals domiciled or encamped at bus stops, or immediately in front of businesses or residences, ensuring public safety and access to services; (4) Facilitate access to necessary supportive services for homeless individuals to aid in their recovery and reintegration into society; and (5) Support the State's Kauhale Initiative to expand emergency and transitional homeless shelters, bridge programs, and permanent supportive housing to meet the diverse needs of the homeless population; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; Director of Law Enforcement; Police Chiefs of the Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Police Department, Maui Police Department, and Kauai Police Department; Homeless Coordinators of the City and County of Honolulu; Housing Administrator of the Office of Housing and Community Development of the County of Hawaii; Director of Human Concerns of the County of Maui; Housing Agency Homeless Coordinator of the County of Kauai; Executive Director of The Institute for Human Services, Inc.; Executive Director of Partners In Care; and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Bridging the Gap Hawaii. |
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| 45 | + | WHEREAS, homelessness is a critical issue in the State, directly impacting the lives of the 4,494 individuals currently experiencing homelessness and the well-being of their communities; and WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to address the public health and safety concerns related to homeless individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues, which increase the negative interactions with the public, including kupuna and keiki; and WHEREAS, homeless individuals residing in, on, or immediately adjacent to freshwater ways that lead to the ocean pose significant human and environmental risks, including through contamination of water sources and harm to marine life; and WHEREAS, trash and stolen shopping carts used by or left behind by homeless individuals contribute to environmental pollution and urban blight, further complicating efforts to maintain clean and safe communities; and WHEREAS, there are safety concerns associated with homeless individuals domiciled or encamped at bus stops or immediately in front of businesses or residences, which can affect public safety and access to services; and WHEREAS, there is a need to help homeless individuals get connected with necessary supportive services to improve their well-being and stability; and WHEREAS, there is continued support for the State's Kauhale Initiative to increase emergency and transitional homeless shelters, bridge programs, and permanent supportive housing; and WHEREAS, the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Department of Law Enforcement, county-level homeless coordinators, county law enforcement, and social services providers are vital stakeholders in addressing homelessness; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Department of Law Enforcement, homeless coordinators of the counties, county law enforcement, and social services providers are requested to work collaboratively and effectively to address homelessness in Hawaii; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in collaborating to address homelessness in Hawaii, the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Department of Law Enforcement, homeless coordinators of each county, county law enforcement, and social services providers are requested to: (1) Prioritize the protection of human and environmental health by taking measures to prevent homeless encampments in, on, or immediately adjacent to freshwater ways that lead to the ocean; (2) Address the impact of trash and stolen shopping carts used by or left behind by homeless individuals, working to mitigate environmental pollution and urban blight; (3) Address the safety concerns associated with homeless individuals domiciled or encamped at bus stops, or immediately in front of businesses or residences, ensuring public safety and access to services; (4) Facilitate access to necessary supportive services for homeless individuals to aid in their recovery and reintegration into society; and (5) Support the State's Kauhale Initiative to expand emergency and transitional homeless shelters, bridge programs, and permanent supportive housing to meet the diverse needs of the homeless population; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; Director of Law Enforcement; Police Chiefs of the Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Police Department, Maui Police Department, and Kauai Police Department; Homeless Coordinators of the City and County of Honolulu and Counties of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai; Executive Director of The Institute for Human Services, Inc.; Executive Director of Partners In Care; and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Bridging the Gap Hawaii. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ |
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