Bill > SB1098

This bill addresses the critical issue of homeless youth in Hawaii by appropriating state funds to the Department of Human Services to provide emergency shelter and services specifically for unaccompanied youth aged 13-25. The bill highlights the significant challenges faced by homeless youth, including that one in ten young adults and one in thirty adolescents experience homelessness without parental supervision, and that these youth are particularly vulnerable to multiple risks such as mental health problems, physical harm, sexual exploitation, and disrupted education. Specifically, the bill mandates that emergency shelters and services must be made available on all major Hawaiian islands (Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu) for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. The bill notes that homeless youth face disproportionate challenges, with statistics showing that 69% report mental health problems, 33% have been in foster care, 50% have been involved in the juvenile justice system, and LGBTQ+ youth are at even higher risk of physical harm while homeless. The legislation aims to address these challenges by providing targeted funding and support to this underserved population, with the appropriated funds to be directly managed and expended by the Department of Human Services, and the act set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1098&year=2025