Bill > HCR116

This concurrent resolution requests the City and County of Honolulu and the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to create a comprehensive, localized plan to address the growing issues of homelessness and behavioral health needs specifically on the Waianae Coast. The resolution highlights that the Waianae Coast has the largest concentration of homeless individuals on Oahu, many of whom are chronically homeless, despite having limited shelter options. It emphasizes that behavioral health and substance use disorders are significant contributors to homelessness and must be central to any solution. The plan is to be "place-based," meaning it will be tailored to the specific needs of the Waianae Coast region, and "coordinated," ensuring different agencies and services work together effectively. The resolution further specifies that the plan should analyze emergency response data related to behavioral health, assess emergency room use for psychiatric crises, evaluate existing crisis stabilization resources, identify areas with the greatest need and service gaps, examine how outreach teams, mental health providers, and first responders collaborate, explore the possibility of a regional crisis center, and suggest any necessary legal or budget changes. Importantly, the City and County of Honolulu and the Statewide Office are directed to involve local community service providers in developing this plan and to report their findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the State Legislature by early 2027.