BRIDGING THE GAP 2019 HAWAIʻI NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

POINT IN TIME COUNT TOPLINE REPORT

OVERVIEW

What is the Point in Time Count? Every January, counties across the nation conduct the
Homeless Point In Time Count, an annual survey of people experiencing homelessness on a given
night. This year, Bridging the Gap canvassed parks, beaches, and other areas, asking people
“Where did you sleep on January 22nd?” The federally mandated survey seeks to count anyone
who slept on the street, in a car, or in other areas not meant for human habitation.

While the Point In Time Count does not capture every person experiencing homelessness, it
provides a one-night snapshot of homelessness on Hawai`i Island, Maui, and Kaua`i. The data
collected is compared county to county and year to year to help stakeholders understand
homelessness in their districts.

Results from the 2019 Hawaiʻi neighbor islands’ Point In Time (PIT) Count, conducted on
January 22, 2019, revealed the following information:

● Overall homelessness decreased by 2% (2,035 persons in 2018 to 1,995 persons in

2019).
● Family homelessness decreased by 18% (216 families in 2018 to 177 families in
2019).
● Veteran homelessness decreased by 3%.
● Youth homelessness decreased by 11%.

The 2019 overall decrease was fueled by a 7% decrease in unsheltered homelessness to 1,237
persons compared to 1,330 in 2018. Unsheltered homelessness declined on two of the three rural
counties, Hawai’i (33%) and Maui (7%). This continues a three-year downward unsheltered
trend, using 2016 as the baseline year. The count of homeless persons living in emergency or
transitional shelters increased 8% from 705 to 758 persons, with increases registering on the
islands of Hawai’i and Maui, and Kaua`i reporting a modest decrease.

Bridging the Gap (BTG), which represents Hawai’i County, Maui County and Kaua`i County, is
the Neighbor Island’s Continuum of Care (CoC). A CoC is a local planning body designed to
promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness.

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NEIGHBOR ISLANDS STATISTICS AND TRENDS

The following table summarizes the total number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless over the
last five years, while also providing the proportion for each component relative to the total. The
2019 sheltered count rose by 8%, due in large part to the inclusion of the disaster related shelters
on Hawai’i Island, which accounted for 30 total people.

BTG Summary, 2015-2019

Sheltered Unsheltered Total

# % # % #

2019 758 38.0% 1,237 62.0% 1,995

2018 705 34.6% 1,330 65.4% 2,035

2017 785 34.7% 1,476 65.3% 2,261

2016 846 28.4% 2,135 71.6% 2,981

2015 813 29.9% 1,904 70.1% 2,717

Disaster-related homelessness: In 2019, the CoC elected to include brief survey questions
related to the natural disasters that occurred on Kaua`i and Hawai’i islands during 2018. These
questions can be found at the bottom of the respective surveys in Appendix four. Based on the
unsheltered data that was collected, 14 of the 348 unsheltered on Kaua`i (4%) responded that
their homelessness was directly caused by the flooding that occurred on Kaua`i’s North Shore
during April 2018. On the Hawaiʻi Island, 11 of the 447 unsheltered (2%) indicated that their
homelessness was related to Hurricane Lane (Aug 2018). 26 of the 447 Hawai’i unsheltered
(6%) stated that they are homeless because of the volcanic eruptions that took place during the
latter half of 2018.

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HAWAI’I COUNTY

Regional Summary of Total Unsheltered Persons Experiencing Homelessness in Hawaiʻi

County:

Summary of Hawai’i Island Regional Unsheltered Homelessness, 2019

Family All Family

Individuals
Individuals Individuals Households

Region # % # % # % # %

1: North Kohala 2 0.5% 0 0.0% 2 0.4% 0 0.0%

2: Hamakua 6 1.6% 0 0.0% 6 1.3% 0 0.0%

3: North Hilo 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0%

4: South Hilo 144 37.4% 11 17.7% 155 34.7% 3 21.4%

5: Puna 17 4.4% 18 29.0% 35 7.8% 3 21.4%

6: Ka’u 24 6.2% 17 27.4% 41 9.2% 4 28.6%

7: South Kona 16 4.2% 0 0.0% 16 3.6% 0 0.0%

8: North Kona 146 37.9% 4 6.5% 150 33.6% 1 7.1%

9: South Kohala 30 7.8% 12 19.4% 42 9.4% 3 21.4%

TOTAL 385 100.0% 62 100.0% 447 100.0% 14 100.0%

Hawaiʻi County: The 2019 PIT Count results showed that Hawaiʻi County made significant
gains in addressing homelessness.

1. Overall homelessness decreased by 20.6%.

a. Unsheltered homelessness decreased 33.2% over the previous year, and
unsheltered homelessness reached its lowest level in six years.
b. Sheltered homelessness increased 22% – This is largely attributable to two new
disaster shelters opening in Pahoa.
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 2. Family homelessness decreased by 37% (87 families in 2018 to 55 families in 2019).
3. Veteran homelessness remained the same.

MAUI COUNTY

Regional Summary of Total Unsheltered Persons Experiencing Homelessness in Maui

County:

Summary of Maui Regional Unsheltered Homelessness, 2019

Family Family
Individuals All Individuals
Individuals Households

Region # % # % # % # %

1: Central Maui 190 47.3% 2 5.0% 192 43.4% 1 9.1%

2: Lower Waiehu 15 3.7% 0 0.0% 15 3.4% 0 0.0%

3: Up Country 30 7.5% 12 30.0% 42 9.5% 3 27.3%

4: Lahaina 85 21.1% 7 17.5% 92 20.8% 2 18.2%

5: Kihei 82 20.4% 11 27.5% 93 21.0% 3 27.3%

6: Hana 0 0.0% 8 20.0% 8 1.8% 2 18.2%

TOTAL 402 100.0% 40 100.0% 442 100.0% 11 100.0%

Maui County: In 2019, total homelessness decreased for the third year in a row.
1. Overall homelessness decreased by 1.3%
a. Unsheltered homelessness saw a slight 6.8% decline over the previous year.
b. Sheltered homelessness ticked up 5.3% compared with 2018.
2. Family homelessness decreased by 9% (99 families in 2018 to 90 families in 2019).
3. Veteran homelessness decreased by 21% (62 veterans in 2018 to 46 veterans in 2019)

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KAUA`I COUNTY

Regional Summary of Total Unsheltered Persons Experiencing Homelessness in Kaua`i

County:

Summary of Kaua`i Regional Unsheltered Homelessness, 2019

Family Family
Individuals All Individuals
Individuals Households

Zone # % # % # % # %

1: West 75 26.2% 27 43.5% 102 29.3% 7 38.9%

2: South 2 0.7% 2 3.2% 4 1.1% 1 5.6%

3: South Central 118 41.3% 20 32.3% 138 39.7% 6 33.3%

4: East 41 14.3% 3 4.8% 44 12.6% 1 5.6%

5: North 50 17.5% 10 16.1% 60 17.2% 3 16.7%

TOTAL 286 100.0% 62 100.0% 348 100.0% 18 100.0%

Kaua`i County: After two years of decreases, total homelessness in 2019 increased over the
previous year.
1. Overall homelessness increased by 51.2%
a. Unsheltered homelessness increased by 86.1%.
b. Sheltered homelessness dipped 10.4% compared with 2018.
2. Family homelessness increased by 7% (30 families in 2018 to 32 families in 2019).
3. Veteran homelessness increased by 86% (14 veterans in 2018 to 26 veterans in 2019).

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COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS

BUILD AND ACQUIRE AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Hawaiʻi can dedicate itself to

increasing the supply of housing and creating new housing opportunities.

MAINTAIN RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAMS: Rapid re-housing is an intervention

designed to help individuals and families exit homelessness quickly and return to permanent
housing by providing three core program components including housing identification, time
limited financial assistance and housing based case management services. According to the
National Low Income and Housing Coalition, “Out of Reach 2018” study, Hawaiʻi has the
highest housing wage in the country. In order to afford a two-bedroom unit, residents must earn
$25.42/hour in Hawaiʻi County, $29.06/hour in Kaua`i County, and $31.13/hour in Maui County.

MAINTAIN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS: For chronically

homeless individuals (those with a disability and long history of homelessness), stable housing
and supportive services is the foundation for stability. Permanent supportive housing programs
are project-based, clustered, or scattered site permanent housing linked with supportive services
that help residents maintain housing. This housing program is the right intervention for persons
with the deepest needs where they may stay in this program indefinitely with temporary or long-
term rental assistance and/or supportive services.

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