Tsutsui Extends Emergency Proclamation on Homelessness

Shopping carts belonging to homeless individuals in the vacant lot next to the Family Life Center in Kahului. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Acting Governor Shan Tsutsui has extended the emergency declaration proclamation to address homelessness statewide. This is the third extension to the emergency proclamation on homelessness, which Governor David Ige first declared in October 2015.

Along with continuing to support the State’s work with homelessness, this third supplemental proclamation continues to provide emergency relief by supporting the County of Maui’s efforts to establish a long-term housing project in Wailuku to target homeless households, serving between 64 to 128 households.

It also continues to support efforts to establish temporary and long-term housing in City and County of Honolulu, County of Hawaiʻi, and County of Kauaʻi, as well as provide all counties relief in their work for the repair and maintenance of existing county shelters.

“I believe it’s important that we continue to provide the support and services to our State, City and County partners to address this pressing issue,” said Acting Governor Tsutsui in a statement. “There’s still much work to do to address this crisis and we must keep the momentum going to help the homeless community.”

State officials say Hawai‘i has the highest rate of homelessness per capita in the nation, with an estimated 465 homeless individuals per 100,000.

“This extension puts an emphasis on the need for long-term housing for the homeless,” said Scott Morishige, the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness. “At the end of the day, we need to put our focus on the need for developing homes for the homeless.”

This third supplemental proclamation is set to expire in April.