Bill > HB91

This bill establishes comprehensive support programs for homeless and food-insecure students within the University of Hawaii system. Specifically, it creates a homeless student stability program that provides grants to campuses to identify and support students experiencing homelessness, offering resources like retail gift cards, healthcare expense reimbursement, temporary housing assistance, and job training support. The bill also establishes a homeless student housing resource program that provides grants to housing support organizations to help students and their families secure stable housing near their campus, covering expenses such as rental assistance, transportation, emergency shelter, and housing stability case management. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of at least one benefits navigator position at each University of Hawaii campus to help students access public benefits and emergency assistance, and requires each campus to develop a strategic plan addressing food insecurity and basic student needs. The bill further requires the university to conduct an annual survey on student food and housing security and publish the results, with the ultimate goal of breaking down barriers to higher education access and supporting students in meeting their basic needs. These initiatives will be funded through state appropriations beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=91&year=2025