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HONOLULU (KHON2) — Bridging the Gap is a coalition of agencies working to end homelessness on Oʻahu’s neighbor islands. They presented the results of the 2024 Homeless Point in Time Count on Wednesday, June 5.
The Homeless Point in Time Count is a federally mandated census that aims to count anyone who slept on the street, in a car or in other areas not meant for human habitation on a given night. This year, volunteers canvassed neighbor island communities, asking people, “Where did you sleep on Jan. 22?”
While the count does not capture every unsheltered person, it provides a one-night snapshot of homelessness in Hawai`i. The data collected is compared county to county and year to year to help stakeholders understand homelessness in their communities.
“Because each island has a distinct community, it’s important to look at each individual county’s results to get an accurate picture of homelessness in that community,” said Bridging the Gap Chair Brandee Menino. “That is especially true with the impact of the Maui fires.”
The report includes data for the 2024 count was conducted from 2018 through 2024. Here are the highlights:
Maui
- Overall Homelessness: Decreased by 7% (from 704 persons in 2023 to 654 in 2024).
- Unsheltered Homelessness: Dropped 26% (from 387 persons in 2023 to 285 in 2024). The number of unsheltered individuals decreased by 96 people, while unsheltered families increased by one.
- Sheltered Homelessness: Increased by 16% (from 317 persons in 2023 to 369 in 2024). There was a rise of 52 people in sheltered homelessness.
- Family Homelessness: Decreased by 20% (from 74 families in 2023 to 59 families in 2024). There was a net reduction of 15 families due to a decrease of 16 sheltered families and an increase of one unsheltered family.
- Chronic Homelessness: Decreased by 12% (from 223 individuals and individuals in households in 2023 to 196 in 2024).
- Veteran Homelessness: Decreased by 57% (from 35 veterans in 2023 to 15 veterans in 2024).
Maui’s emergency Non-Congregate Shelter (NCS) data, which includes hotel rooms provided to fire survivors, added 2,328 households and 5,245 people to Maui’s count.
Kaua‘i
On Kaua’i, where there is only funding for three Outreach staff, volunteers play a crucial role.
“We have increased our volunteer recruitment and training, and that has improved the accuracy of our Point in Time Count,” said Makana Kamibayashi, Chair of the Kaua’i Community Alliance.
From 2023 to 2024 on Kaua’i:
- Sheltered Homeless Individuals: Increased by one to 59 people.
- Unsheltered Homelessness: Increased by 34 people to 464, reflecting an 8% rise.
- Total Homeless Individuals: Increased by 35 people to 523, reflecting a 7% rise.
- Unsheltered Single Individuals: Increased by 36 people to 370.
- Unsheltered Family Households: Decreased by 5% to 22 households.
“What we are seeing in these results is that our programming for children and families is effective,” explained Kamibayashi. “However, the combination of a tight housing market, lack of treatment options for substance abuse and mental health and inadequate funding for wraparound services has unsurprisingly led to an increase in homelessness among single adults.”
Hawai’i Island
The 2024 Point in Time Count data for Hawai’i Island showed a significant decrease in total homelessness by 285 people, a reduction of 28% year-over-year. Notably, the number of families with children experiencing homelessness has decreased by 52% since 2018.
“We attribute the decline in homelessness to the unprecedented funding our county has allocated to homelessness and affordable housing,” said Paul Normann, Chair of Community Alliance Partners. “When donors and funders see our local government has skin in the game, it gives us leverage to attract even more funding for compassionate and effective programs.”
From 2023 to 2024 on Hawai’i Island:
- Total Homelessness: Decreased by 28% (from 1,003 persons in 2023 to 718 in 2024).
- Sheltered Homelessness: Decreased by 31% (from 278 persons in 2023 to 191 in 2024).
- Unsheltered Homelessness: Decreased by 27% (from 725 persons in 2023 to 527 in 2024).
- Family Homelessness: Decreased by 25% (from 55 families in 2023 to 41 in 2024).
- Veteran Homelessness: Decreased by 24% (from 50 veterans in 2023 to 38 in 2024).
For more detailed information, including year-to-year trends and analysis, click here.
About Bridging the Gap
Bridging the Gap (BTG) is a group of diverse stakeholders representing the rural counties of Kauaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi, tasked with the operating and planning responsibilities of the Continuum of Care as defined in the HEARTH Act.
BTG promotes a community-wide commitment to preventing and ending homelessness by quickly re-housing homeless households while minimizing trauma and dislocation.
Click here for mor information on how you can support BTG.
BTG’s mission is to end homelessness across the neighbor islands through collaborative, coordinated and effective service delivery.