Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions (OHHS)

The two Continua of Care track the number of emergency shelter beds and report this data annually to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the Housing Inventory Count (HIC).   Below is a chart that illustrates the number of emergency shelter beds reported each year from 2005 to 2022, and includes a breakdown of beds on Oahu and beds for the neighbor islands (Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island).

Statewide Housing Inventory Count – Emergency Shelter Beds (2005 to 2022), Source:  Partners in Care and Bridging the Gap.

Below are two charts illustrating the number of emergency shelter beds for families with minor children and single adults respectively for the period 2005 to 2022:

Emergency Shelter Beds – Families with Minor Children (2005 to 2022), Source: CoC Housing Inventory Count Reports. 

Emergency Shelter Beds – Single Adults (2005 to 2022), Source:  CoC Housing Inventory Count Reports.

What is the difference between an emergency shelter and a transitional shelter/transitional housing?
Individuals generally access emergency shelter directly from an unsheltered situation.  In contrast, most transitional shelter/transitional housing programs require an individual to be referred by the local Continuum of Care’s Coordinated Entry System (CES).   The differences between emergency shelter and transitional shelter/transitional housing are largely based on sources of funding, and in some cases on the configuration of the space.  In general, both emergency shelter and transitional shelter/transitional housing provide short-term places for people with nowhere else to live to stay temporarily and receive assistance to seek and obtain longer-term housing.

Are there emergency shelter vacancies in our community?   How much emergency shelter capacity is there to serve people experiencing homelessness?
Emergency shelter vacancies are tracked daily and shared with service providers and government agencies in each county. Please click here for a list of the updated daily vacancy count.

How can I access emergency shelter or transitional shelter/housing?
Each shelter facility may have a different process or set of requirements for entry.   For assistance in accessing shelter, you may connect with outreach programs for help, or call (808) 586-0193 for more information.