Committee advances funding to expand emergency shelter and safe-space services for unaccompanied homeless youth

The House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness advanced HB613 on Feb. 6 to appropriate funds for emergency shelter and services for unaccompanied homeless youth, adopting language from the administration’s similar bill (HB1101) to create a permanent Safe Spaces for Youth program in the Office of Youth Services.

Testimony came from juvenile-justice and youth-service organizations, including Sonny Gannigan of the Office of the Public Defender, Brandon Mitsuda of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Leanne Gillespie of the Office of Youth Services, Carla Houser of RISE, and Hawaii Youth Services Network. Witnesses described pilot programming, HUD-funded system-improvement work, coordinated entry, and the unique needs of LGBTQ+ youth and transgender minors.

Office of Youth Services director Leanne Gillespie said the office is ready to procure shelter services statewide under an already-developed Safe Spaces pilot and asked that funding focus on that program rather than creating separate, new programs. RISE noted it provides outreach, emergency shelter and federally funded housing programs and is part of a HUD youth homelessness system-improvement grant.

Committee members and witnesses discussed the appropriate age range and licensing requirements for minor shelters. Gillespie and others recommended serving youth up to age 24 while preserving the ability to serve younger minors; representatives said licensing is required for minor shelters, though some pilot flexibility exists for trusted partners. Carla Houser confirmed RISE had previously operated a licensed minor shelter during a pandemic pilot and said the organization could meet physical separation requirements to avoid mixing minors and adults.

Chair Martin instructed staff to replace Section 2 of HB613 with language from HB1101, specify that funding is for the permanent Safe Spaces for Youth program in the Office of Youth Services, and include cost figures provided in testimony in the committee report: $871,016 for FY26 and a base budget of $7,017,016 for FY27. The committee voted to pass HB613 with those amendments and to defect the date, and it noted an intent to coordinate language to avoid gaps between pilot repeal and permanent program start.

Ending: HB613 was advanced with amendments adopting administration language, funding figures to be included in the committee report, and directions for drafting to ensure continuity from the pilot project to a permanent Safe Spaces for Youth program administered by the Office of Youth Services.