Relating To Homelessness.
HB1338 establishes a two-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program in Hawaii, to be administered by the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness in coordination with the Department of Human Services and the City and County of Honolulu. The bill requires the coordinator to designate a specific site on state or county land by November 1, 2025, and to open the location for use by January 1, 2026. The site would function as a managed safe location for homeless individuals and families to live and access services.
The bill specifies a range of facilities and supports that must be provided at the designated location, including shelter space, vehicle parking and sleeping areas, restrooms and showers, storage, laundry, waste disposal, daily meals, pet accommodation, and volunteer or paid work opportunities. It also directs the coordinator to survey residents about additional needs such as job training, education, childcare, school transportation, and transit access, and allows contracts with churches, nonprofits, businesses, and other entities to help operate the program. The pilot would end on December 31, 2027, and the coordinator must report annually to the Legislature on progress, participation, costs, outcomes, and whether the program should become permanent.
HB1338 would create a new temporary state homelessness program and authorize the use of state or county land for a designated sanctuary site in Honolulu. It would require coordination among the Governor’s homelessness coordinator, DHS, and the city and county of Honolulu, and it would direct the provision of specific services and infrastructure at the site. The bill also appropriates $5 million from general revenues for fiscal year 2025-2026, allows the governor to transfer those funds to other agencies for implementation, and requires unencumbered funds to lapse by June 30, 2027. The measure would not amend existing homelessness statutes directly, but it would add a new pilot program framework and reporting requirements within Hawaii law.
Based on the bill text and available context, the overall sentiment appears supportive of a more structured, service-oriented response to homelessness, with an emphasis on safety, coordination, and accountability. The bill’s design suggests an attempt to balance humanitarian assistance with site management, public order, and environmental protection. There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal opposition or endorsement can be identified from the legislative record included here.
The main potential points of contention are likely to be the use of public land for a homeless sanctuary, the selection of the site in Honolulu, and the cost of the $5 million appropriation. The bill also anticipates concerns about neighborhood impacts and environmental effects by requiring efforts to minimize harm to nearshore resources such as corals, reef fish, and seabirds. Another possible area of debate is the bill’s operational approach, including the zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs, violence, and obscenities, which may be viewed as either necessary for safety or too restrictive depending on the perspective. Because no committee discussion or votes are provided, specific stakeholder positions cannot be confirmed.