The Honolulu City Council voted to request a performance audit of the city’s CORE program and related emergency medical services to determine whether the programs are achieving intended outcomes and to identify opportunities for improvement.

Council Member Nishimoto presented Resolution 251-109 asking the city auditor to conduct the performance audit. Council Member Tupelo, who partnered on the request, said CORE represents a non-law-enforcement, health-centered response model for people experiencing homelessness and behavioral-health crises, but that testimony during committee pointed to gaps between CORE’s current structure and established models such as CAHOOTS in Oregon. Tupelo said proponents want to know whether core is reducing 911 calls, diverting calls from emergency rooms and police, and operating efficiently.

Tupelo cited testimony from service providers and civil-rights groups which argued CORE’s mission is positive but that its structure could be refined to better match crisis-response best practices. The resolution passed without recorded objections and the committee record shows CR 286 and Resolution 251-109 CD1 were adopted.

The city auditor will conduct the performance audit as requested; the resolution as discussed asks the auditor to examine outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with alternative crisis-response models, and to provide recommendations for improvements where warranted.