Senate committee advances bill to fund permanent safe spaces for unaccompanied homeless youth

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services voted to pass House Bill 613, which would fund services for homeless youth, with amendments that insert governance language from a related measure and note a requested appropriation of $1,691,516 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

The bill drew extensive testimony from service providers, local governments and advocates. Judith Clark, executive director of Hawaii Youth Services Network, said the state risks losing “two and a half years” of pilot work and implementation without funding. Testifiers urged lawmakers to ensure funds reach low‑barrier shelters for unaccompanied minors and asked for clarity on how much of any appropriation would be directed to such shelters and how many beds currently exist for minors.

Supporters from counties, public agencies and nonprofits—including the Department of Human Services and the County of Hawaii Office of Housing and Community Development—urged passage. Several community members described program work in places such as Nanakuli and listed the kinds of services safe spaces provide: respite, meals and short‑term stabilization. One Zoom testifier asked the committee to press the Office of Youth Services for data on bed counts and the percent of funds that would reach unaccompanied minors.

The committee’s amendment package replaces and consolidates related governance language into HB 613, clarifies technical points and records the committee’s general fund request. The transcript indicates the committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments; members present voted in the affirmative and the recommendation was adopted.

The measure will move forward with committee language and the recorded budget request; advocates said they will monitor whether the final appropriation sustains the pilot projects that several providers said are near implementation.