HB2509

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that for decades, policies and practices within the State of Hawaiʻi and its counties have increasingly relied on criminalization, enforcement, and displacement to address homelessness, including the use of anti-camping laws, park exclusions, encampment sweeps, and other punitive measures. These approaches have failed to reduce homelessness and have instead left individuals and families experiencing homelessness with fewer lawful places to exist, rest, and meet basic human needs.

The legislature further finds that such policies have contributed to cycles of instability, trauma, and mistrust, particularly among those who have experienced repeated displacement, citation, or arrest for activities essential to survival. As a result, many individuals experiencing homelessness avoid government systems and service providers out of fear, creating barriers to care, housing, and recovery.

The legislature recognizes that homelessness is not a crime, but a condition arising from complex factors including housing shortages, rising costs of living, economic instability, health challenges, and systemic inequities. Addressing homelessness requires compassionate, humane, and evidence-based responses that prioritize dignity, safety, and voluntary participation.

The legislature further finds that access to basic sanitation, nutrition, and personal safety is foundational to human dignity and public health. The absence of safe and welcoming places to shower, eat, rest, and receive services undermines individual well-being and hinders successful connections to housing, healthcare, employment, and behavioral health supports.

The legislature acknowledges that trust is essential to effective service delivery. Individuals who have experienced homelessness often require consistent, non-punitive, and trauma-informed environments in order to rebuild trust and willingly engage with assistance. Safe spaces that are not contingent upon law enforcement involvement or coercion are critical to fostering that trust.

Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to establish a Homelessness Sanctuary Program to provide voluntary, low-barrier, and safe spaces where unhoused women and young children may meet basic needs, including access to showers, meals, hygiene facilities, and supportive services, and may be connected to housing, healthcare, and other resources. The program is intended to replace fear with stability, exclusion with inclusion, and punishment with pathways toward recovery and self-sufficiency.

SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter HomelessNEss SANCTUARY PILOT PROGRAM"

(a) There is established a homelessness sanctuary pilot program to provide a safe location on designated lands for unhoused women and young children, under the age of ten. The program shall be administered by the coordinator on homelessness in coordination with the department of human services and the city and county of Honolulu.

(b) The coordinator on homelessness shall designate a specific location for the homelessness sanctuary pilot program. The state, county, federal, or private partners having jurisdiction over the land shall work with the coordinator on homelessness to:

(1) Ensure that the location has sufficient infrastructure to support the pilot program; and

(2) Minimize adverse impacts to the environment, including nearshore resources such as corals, reef fish, and seabirds.

(c) The location designated pursuant to subsection (b) shall serve as a safe location for unhoused women and young children, under the age of ten, to reside and access services. The coordinator on homelessness, department of human services, and city and county of Honolulu shall:

(1) Open the location for habitation and provision of services;

(2) Coordinate to provide the following accommodations at the designated location:

(A) A central tent for shelter;

(B) A parking area at which residents may:

(i) Park their vehicles; and

(ii) Sleep in their vehicles, if the residents choose to do so;

(D) Lockers and storage space;

(E) Laundry facilities;

(F) Solid waste collection and disposal;

(G) Open land area with sufficient space for facility activities;

(H) Perimeter fencing; and

(I) Onsite security;

(3) Allow for residents to set up additional, individual tents as needed;

(4) Partner with nonprofit organizations and other entities to provide at least one meal per day to each resident;

(5) Allow residents to be accompanied by pet animals; and

(6) Establish volunteer and employment opportunities for residents; provided that:

(A) Residents employed under this paragraph shall be paid not less than the minimum wage; and

(B) Volunteer and employment opportunities, to the extent possible, shall focus on clean-up activities, vegetation control, painting, and other tasks for which the state and county governments are experiencing a backlog; and

(7) To the extent possible, establish a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs, violence, sexual misconduct, and obscenities.

(d) The coordinator on homelessness shall survey residents to determine other facilities and services that residents need or desire, including:

(1) Medical attention;

(2) Mental health services;

(3) Domestic abuse treatment;

(4) Assistance in obtaining birth certificates or state IDs;

(5) Assistance enrolling in Med-QUEST and the Coordinated Entry System;

(6) Case management with a social worker;

(7) Workshop areas for job training;

(8) Education opportunities;

(9) Gardening;

(10) Childcare to allow residents with children to seek and maintain employment;

(11) Transportation for children to attend school; and

(12) Transportation for residents to access bus and rail services that allow residents to more easily access their places of employment.

Subject to available funds, the coordinator on homelessness and the coordinator's partner agencies may offer facilities and services identified by residents as high priority needs or desires under this subsection.

(e) The coordinator on homelessness may work with volunteers, qualified churches, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and other entities pursuant to chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the purposes of this Act.

(f) No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the next regular session after program initiation and each year thereafter, the coordinator on homelessness shall submit a report to the legislature that includes:

(1) Progress the State has made in establishing the homelessness sanctuary pilot program;

(2) As applicable, the number of unhoused women and young children, under the age of ten, served by the program;

(3) An evaluation of the homelessness sanctuary pilot program to determine whether the objectives of the program have been met or exceeded;

(4) An assessment of the impact of the homelessness sanctuary pilot program on the homelessness problem in Hawaii;

(5) An accounting of the expenditure of moneys appropriated by this Act, including a summary of any contracts entered into pursuant to subsection (e);

(6) A recommendation of whether the homelessness sanctuary pilot program should be extended or made permanent; and

(7) Any other findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation.

(g) The homelessness sanctuary pilot program shall cease to exist thirty-six months from its implementation.

(h) As used in this section:

"County" means the city and county of Honolulu.

"Designated location" means the location on state, county, federal, or private land designated for the homelessness sanctuary pilot program pursuant to subsection (b).

"Homeless" and "unhoused" have the same meaning as in section 346-361, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

"Pet animal" has the same meaning as in section 711-1100, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

"Resident" means a unhoused person who lives at or receives services from the homelessness sanctuary pilot program.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the homelessness sanctuary pilot program.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act; provided that the appropriation made by this section shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made; provided further that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2029, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 4. Beginning with fiscal year 2027-2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the department of human services shall establish the homelessness pilot program as a separate line item within the department's budget.

SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the governor may transfer all or a portion of the appropriation in this section to other state or county agencies for expenditures incurred to implement the homelessness sanctuary pilot program.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2509
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII