HAWAIʻI COUNTY SEES 28 PERCENT DECREASE IN HOMELESSNESS Point in Time Count Shows Lowest Homelessness Numbers in Six Years

HAWAIʻI COUNTY SEES 28 PERCENT DECREASE IN HOMELESSNESS

Point in Time Count Shows Lowest Homelessness Numbers in Six Years

The 2024 Homeless Point in Time (PIT) Count for Hawaiʻi County has revealed a significant decrease in homelessness across the island. The report highlights a 28% overall reduction in homelessness, with a total decrease of 285 people from the previous year. This progress underscores the County’s dedication and strategic efforts to address homelessness and create affordable housing opportunities for local residents.

Notable Highlights from the PIT Report:

• Total Homelessness: A decrease of 285 individuals, resulting in a 28% overall reduction in homelessness in Hawaiʻi County.
• Family Homelessness: A reduction of 14 families, marking a 25% decrease in families experiencing homelessness.
• Veterans Homelessness: A reduction of 12 veterans, achieving a 24% decrease in veterans experiencing homelessness.

• The top three reasons cited for the current living situation of individuals experiencing homelessness are: 1. Family/relationship conflict (23.4%), 2. Unable to afford rent (18.5%), and 3. Disability, which includes mental, physical, or substance use (13%).

The overall decrease in homelessness between 2023 and 2024 can be attributed to several key initiatives:

Homelessness and Housing Fund: Appropriation of funds to specifically address homelessness. Executed 16 grant agreements with 13 non-profit organizations under the Homelessness and Housing Fund to improve the delivery of services and build capacity of our community service providers.

Grant Agreements with Non-Profit Organizations: The execution of 16 grant agreements with 13 non-profit organizations under the Homelessness and Housing Fund has improved the delivery of services and built capacity among service providers.

Utilization of Federally Funded Housing Vouchers: The full utilization of the County’s 2,300 federally funded housing vouchers, including the distribution of 114 Emergency Housing Vouchers for households experiencing homelessness and an additional 65 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Affordable Housing Units: The delivery of 169 affordable housing units serving households earning less than 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 18 of those units reserved for extremely low-income households (earning less than 30% of AMI).

Team Building and Coordination: Under Mayor Roth’s leadership, the County has coordinated efforts between various departments, including the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD), Department of Parks and Recreation, Hawaiʻi Police Department, Department of Public Works, and Department of Environmental Management. Additionally, the County has initiated a Community of Practice to share best practices and concerns among Executive Directors, Program Managers, and Team Leaders on a quarterly basis, as well as the Hawaiʻi County Homeless Engagement Hui, to consolidate outreach resources and address community concerns.

“These numbers reflect the hard work and dedication of our community partners and County departments working together to address homelessness on our island,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “While we celebrate this progress, we know much work is still to be done. We remain committed to ensuring that every resident has access to safe and stable housing.”

The full report provides more detailed information on the Point in Time Count or Bridging the Gap. All reports are available on the Bridging the Gap website at btghawaii.org.