Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions

Hawai‘i has one of the world’s most expensive and competitive housing markets, and we have a desperate lack of truly affordable housing for our people – this is the root cause of homelessness in our State and similar locales across the country. The permanent solution to homelessness is creating and protecting affordable space within our communities for our people to be housed and healed. That is the foundational focus on homelessness of the Green Administration and the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions.

This office works closely with the Governor to develop policies and programs to end homelessness. In collaboration with community partners, Counties, and State agencies, we design, test, and evaluate innovative approaches to address homelessness in Hawai‘i. We also work to identify and address gaps in the homeless service system; maintain a homelessness data clearinghouse, and coordinate the Hawai‘i Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Currently there are 10 operating kauhale statewide:

Project Vision

Ka Malu Ko‘olau – single-occupancy units – Kāneʻohe
Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority – senior kauhale
Puʻuhonua o Nēnē – community kauhale – Kahului, Maui

Hawaiʻi Health and Harm Reduction Center (H3RC or HHHRC)

Ho‘okahi Leo – single-occupancy units – Middle Street

Institute for Human Service (IHS)

Paepae Hou – community kauhale – Kalihi
Village of Redemption – single-occupancy units
Kahauiki Village – family kauhale

U.S. Vets/City and County of Honolulu

Kamaʻokū Kauhale (Operator: U.S. Vets) – single-occupancy units

City and County of Honolulu

Waikīkī Vista – family kauhale – Waikīkī

Aunty Blanche

Hui Mahiʻai ʻĀina – single-occupancy – Waimānalo

John Mizuno, Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness

Priorities:

Expand Housing Inventory for Houseless Individuals Using Every Tool
Test New Solutions to Long-Term Affordable Communities (Including Non-Traditional Housing)
Create More Space for those with Mental or Behavioral Health Needs
Clear the Obstacles Along the Pathway from Street to Home
Call Everyone Back to the Community and Aloha