1) Hawai'i has high rates of unsheltered homelessness and extremely high housing costs that are out of reach for most locals. 2) The document examines best practices for addressing homelessness from other cities, focusing on housing first and permanent supportive housing models. 3) It also describes negative impacts of city sweeps and sit-lie policies on homeless populations as well as potential constitutional issues.

1. Tai Dunson-Strane
University of Hawai`i at Manoa
Department of Urban and Regional Planning
PLAN 495

2. Problem Statement
1. Hawai’i ranks 2nd highest in the nation for unsheltered homeless statewide (over
66.7% / 2,206 individuals)
2. In 2015, on Oahu there were 1,939 unsheltered homeless up 15.8 % (306
individuals) compared to 2014
3. Hawai’i ranks 1st in the nation for the highest housing wage at $31.61 per hour
need earn to rent a 2BRM apt at Fair Market Rate
4. Housing out of reach for most locals – $710K median sales price for a single
family home (July 2015) , $350K median sales price for a condo(July 2015) and
$2,496 average rent in Metro Honolulu (June 2015)
5. 24,000 new housing units are needed to meet demand

3. Purpose
1. To identify best practices in addressing housing for homeless.
2. To examine the opportunities and challenges to implementing these solutions
on Oahu .
Data Collection
1. Surveys data taken from PLAN 605 class project: “Effects of Sit-Lie Policies on
Honolulu’s Houseless. Homeless were interview in Kakaako, Kapalama Canal, and
Aala Park encampments (February – March 2015).
http://blog.hawaii.edu/durp/files/2015/06/Houseless-Honolulu-Report.small_.pdf
2. City & County of Honolulu Department of Community Services – Homeless Action
Plan 2015 http://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-
166230/DOC%20(3).PDF
3. Homeless Action Plans from select cities:Chicago, Denver, Portland, Quincy, San
Francisco and Sacramento

5. CITATIONS
AND SWEEPS
PROPERTY &
ECONOMIC
LOSS
PHYSICAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL
HARM
POSSIBLE
CONSTITUTIONAL
VIOLATIONS
FINES & LOSS OF
EMPLOYMENT
PERSONAL
PROPERTY LOSS
LACK OF SWEEP
NOTIFICATION
STORAGE &
RETRIEVAL ISSUES
PSYCHOLOGICAL
DAMAGE
PHYSICAL STRESS
EFFECTS OF CITY SWEEPS AND SIT-LIE POLICIES

6. Key Initiative – Coordinated Campaign to End
Honolulu Homeless (2015)
1. H Provide Housing FirstTenant Based Rental
Assistance to persons and/or families
experiencing homelessness
2. Develop housing to support the City's Housing
First approach to ending homelessness,
including the acquisition or renovation of a
building or units
3. Provide homeless prevention and rehousing
services to persons and/or families experiencing
homelessness and/or persons and/or families at
risk of homelessness

7. Key Initiative – Coordinated Campaign to End
Honolulu Homeless (2015)
4. Continue to work with the Continuum of Care
agencies to transition federal Continuum of
Care resources toward adding Housing First
projects to future HUD applications
5. Continue to support use of HUD Community
Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME
Investment Partnership (HOME) funds to
implement the Housing First model
6. Play a significant policy role in the
homelessness solution as a funder of programs
7. Through adoption of the Housing First
philosophy, the City will continue to leverage
the following federal, state, community, and
private sector partnerships

8. Key Initiative – Coordinated Campaign to End
Honolulu Homeless (2015)
8. Through adoption of a new affordable housing
policy and other housing initiatives, the City
will make housing more affordable
9. The City will seek opportunities to improve the
income-generating ability of those most
vulnerable to homelessness
10.The City will seek legislative opportunities to
further its homelessness initiatives

9. Key Initiative – Getting Housed, Staying
Housed (2003)
1. Homeless Prevention
2. Housing First
3. Wrap Around Services
Highlights
2005 to 2007, Chicago decreased the city’s total
homeless population by 12 percent (6,715 to
5,922)
Today
6,294 Homeless : 5,329 Sheltered / 965
Unsheltered (2014 Point inTime Count)

10. 1. Permanent and
Transitional Housing
2. Shelter
3. Prevention
4. Services
5. Public and Safety
Outreach
6. Education,Training
and Employment
7. Community
Awareness and
Coordinated
Reponses
8. Zoning, Urban
Design & Land Use
Key Initiative – Denver’s Road Home (2005)
Highlights
2005 to 2007, Denver decreased the city’s
total homeless population by 13 percent
(4,444 to 3,954)
Today
6,130 Homeless : 5,325 Sheltered / 805
Unsheltered (2014 Point inTime Count)

11. Key Initiative – Home Again (2004)
1. Focus on chronically homeless
2. Streamline access to existing services
3. Concentrate resources on programs that offer
measurable results
Highlights
2005 to 2007, Portland decreased the city’s total
homeless population by 13 percent (5,103 to 4,456)
Today
3,801 Homeless : 1,914 Sheltered / 1887
Unsheltered (2014 Point inTime Count)

12. 1. Housing First
2. Phasing Down Shelters
andTransitional Housing
3. Treatment Innovations
4. Nutrient Support
5. Prevention and
Intervention Innovation
6. Coordination of City
Resources
7. Redirection of Homeless
Dollars
8. Employment
Opportunities
9. TenYear Plan Oversight
Key Initiative – PlanTo Abolish Chronic Homelessness (2005)
Highlights
2009 to 2013, San Francisco decreased the
city’s chronic homeless population by 51
percent (4,039 to 1,977)
Today
6686 Homeless : 3181 Sheltered / 3,505
Unsheltered (2014 Point inTime Count)

13. 1. Housing First
2. Outreach and Central
Intake
3. Prevention
4. Leadership
5. Evaluation and
Reporting to the
Community
Key Initiative – Step Forward (2006)
Highlights
2006 to 2010, Sacramento decreased the
city’s unsheltered homeless population by
20 percent (1194 to 955 )
Today
2659 Homeless : 1,711 Sheltered / 948
Unsheltered (2015 Point inTime Count)

14. Highlights – Home Again (2004)
1. LEED Platinum Certification
2. Multi-use building
3. Supportive Housing -130 units
4. Men’sTransitional Shelter -90 bed facility
5. Day Center
6. Onsite Services for over 20 agencies and non-profits
7. Centrally located near transit and employment
Results
-Day Center provides services to 7000 homeless per year
-80% Retention Rate for homeless living in supportive
housing

15.  Change the conversation from homelessness as
“bad for the economy” to helping family in time
of need
Union Labor, Faith-Based organizations, Homeless advocacy,
Services providers and Homeless themselves working as
coalitions to propose comprehensive solutions
 Prioritize funding for programs that place
homeless into permanent supportive housing to
address the growing problem of homelessness
rather than further dispersing and criminalizing
homeless individuals and families.

16. Contact Information
Tai Dunson-Strane
Urban and Regional Planning
Master's Degree Student
University of Hawaii at Mānoa
taids@hawaii.edu