Bill > HB943

This bill establishes a comprehensive Homeless Triage and Treatment Center Program within the Hawaii Department of Health's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division to address homelessness and related health challenges. The program will provide a range of services for homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness who have substance abuse issues or mental illness, including emergency food, shelter, housing navigation, medical assessments, substance abuse treatment, detoxification services, behavioral health services, and trauma-informed life skills groups. The program will collaborate with local hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, law enforcement agencies, and homeless service providers, and may contract with facilities that provide comprehensive triage services. Additionally, the bill expands the existing Crisis Intervention and Diversion Services Program to explicitly include homeless persons and allows for intensive mobile outreach services. The legislation appropriates $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to implement these programs, with the funds to be used only for services directly contracted between the Department of Health and service providers. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, aiming to provide more targeted and comprehensive support for homeless individuals with complex health and social needs.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=943&year=2025