More than $10 million in grant funding is up for grabs for potential programs to alleviate homelessness on the Big Island.
Since 2022, Hawaii County has set aside 75% of certain residential property tax revenues to fund programs addressing homelessness on the Big Island through the Office of Housing and Community Development’s Homelessness and Housing Fund.
For the fund’s third year, $10.5 million is available to qualifying agencies, nonprofits and for-profit organizations with proposals for homeless programs.
At an informational session about the program, OHCD’s Community Engagement Division Manager Sharon Hirota said this year’s funding will be awarded following a more rigorous series of metrics. Successful applications will be those that can measurably reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness, reduce the length of time they experience homelessness, or reduce homelessness recidivism.
Possible programs include permanent housing development projects, substance abuse treatment programs, expansions to street medicine programs, homeless transportation services, and more. However, Hirota said this year, the fund is more “housing focused,” and will prioritize programs that offer tangible pathways toward housing for homeless individuals.
This round of funding is the largest since 2022, with the program having previously offered $7.5 million during fiscal year 2022-23 and $9.7 million the following fiscal year. Some of the programs funded in those years included more than $1.6 million to HOPE Services Hawaii’s 34 Rainbow Drive shelter, more than $500,000 to the West Hawaii Community Health Center’s street medicine program and more.
According to OHCD data, programs funded through the Homelessness and Housing Fund connected 137 homeless households to stable shelters between May 2023 and Feb. 29. Applicants have until Sept. 16 to apply for funding, with awardees announced around Oct. 22. Grant funding must be thoroughly spent by the end of January 2026 or else unspent funds will be returned to the county.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
