Requesting The City And County Of Honolulu And Statewide Office On Homelessness And Housing Solutions To Develop A Coordinated, Place-based Strategic Action Plan To Address Behavioral Health And Homelessness Response Needs On The Waianae Coast.
HCR116 is a nonbinding House Concurrent Resolution that requests the City and County of Honolulu and the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to jointly develop a coordinated, place-based strategic action plan for the Waianae Coast. The resolution is grounded in findings that homelessness on Oahu increased in 2024, that the Waianae Coast has the largest concentration of homeless individuals on the island, and that more than half of those individuals are chronically homeless. It also notes that the region has relatively few shelter programs compared with its need.
The requested plan is intended to focus not only on homelessness response, but also on behavioral health and substance use issues that the resolution identifies as major drivers of homelessness. The plan would examine emergency behavioral health calls and response times, psychiatric emergency room use, crisis stabilization bed capacity, service gaps, coordination among outreach teams and first responders, and the feasibility of a regional crisis stabilization or triage center. It would also identify any statutory or budgetary changes needed and report findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature before the 2027 session.
Because HCR116 is a concurrent resolution rather than a bill, it does not directly amend state statutes, create new programs, or appropriate funds. Its practical effect is to direct attention and request coordinated planning by state and county homelessness and behavioral health entities, with an emphasis on the Waianae Coast. If followed, the resolution could lead to future legislation, budget requests, or administrative changes based on the report and recommendations submitted to the Legislature.
The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is supportive and problem-solving in tone. The measure frames the issue as an urgent public health and homelessness crisis and emphasizes collaboration, shared priorities, and more efficient use of resources. No committee testimony or vote history is provided, so there is no recorded opposition or formal debate in the available materials.
The main points of contention implied by the resolution are not about the need to address homelessness, but about how best to do so. The measure highlights gaps in shelter capacity, emergency response, and behavioral health services, suggesting possible disagreement over whether the region needs more crisis stabilization beds, a triage center, expanded outreach, or changes in funding and law. It also points to the need for coordination between county agencies, state offices, providers, and first responders, which may raise questions about jurisdiction, responsibility, and resource allocation.