THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	96
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

urging the city and county of honolulu's crisis outreach response and engagement program to provide regular care and services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the central oahu, north shore, leeward, and windward regions of oahu on a regular rotating schedule.

WHEREAS, homelessness is a complex and multi-faceted issue that requires planning, coordination, and implementation across state, county, business, local, and community lines; and

WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu established the Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement Program in October 2021 to provide services to Oahu's unsheltered population, responding to crisis calls that are non-violent and do not require emergent medical assistance; and

WHEREAS, the Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement Program's response team includes emergency medical technicians and community health workers trained in relationship building, extending compassion, problem-solving, and crisis prevention intervention; and

WHEREAS, once the identified crisis is addressed, the Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement Program also deploys a participant-centered follow-up routine that includes continual assessment of participants' needs and linkage to community resources when necessary; and

WHEREAS, the Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement Program has initially focused on Honolulu's urban core, stretching from Chinatown to Waikiki, but has slowly expanded and responded to calls in other parts of Oahu; and

WHEREAS, although local government agencies, non-profit service providers, and other private sector organizations have diligently and successfully assisted homeless individuals, the number of individuals and families on Oahu has not significantly decreased; and

WHEREAS, because homelessness has been a rising concern among residents islandwide, expanding the reach of the Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement Program throughout Oahu may prove effective in supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and addressing residents' concerns about Oahu's homeless population; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the City and County of Honolulu's Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement Program is urged to provide regular care and services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the Central Oahu, North Shore, Leeward, and Windward regions of Oahu on a regular rotating schedule; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu and Director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement Program; City and County of Honolulu; Homelessness