Bill > SB2563

This bill establishes a three-year Homelessness Sanctuary Pilot Program, administered by the Coordinator on Homelessness in partnership with the Department of Human Services and the City and County of Honolulu, to provide a safe and voluntary space for unhoused primary caregivers and their children under eighteen to reside and access essential services. The program aims to move away from punitive measures against homelessness and instead offer a humane approach by providing facilities such as shelter tents, parking for vehicles where residents can sleep, restrooms, showers, laundry, lockers, and waste disposal, along with at least one meal per day, and the allowance of pet animals. The Coordinator on Homelessness will also survey residents to identify and potentially provide additional services like medical and mental health care, domestic abuse treatment, assistance with identification and enrollment in programs like Med-QUEST, case management, job training, educational opportunities, childcare, and transportation, with the goal of connecting residents to housing and other resources. The program is funded with an initial appropriation of $5,000,000 and requires the Coordinator to submit annual reports to the Legislature detailing the program's progress, impact, and expenditures, and to make recommendations on its future. The pilot program is set to conclude thirty-six months after its implementation, with specific sections of the bill taking effect on July 1, 2026, and the entire act on January 30, 2050.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2563&year=2026