STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1609

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.C.R. No. 180

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 180 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATEWIDE OFFICE ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, COUNTY HOMELESS COORDINATORS, COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDERS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY AND EFFECTIVELY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Department of Law Enforcement, homeless coordinators of each county, county law enforcement, and social services providers to work collaboratively and effectively to address homelessness in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions and one individual.

Your Committee finds that homelessness remains a critical issue in Hawaii that creates significant public health, safety, and environmental concerns. Homeless individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues often experience negative interactions with the public, and encampments near waterways, businesses, and public spaces contribute to pollution, safety risks, and urban blight. This measure seeks to address these challenges by requesting the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, other governmental agencies, and social service providers to work collaboratively on effective homelessness solutions to enhance access for homeless individuals and families to supportive services, improve public safety, and advance initiatives to provide emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its title to make technical amendments; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 180, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 180, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair