Other Permanent Housing (OPH) Inventory

The two Continua of Care track the number of Other Permanent Housing (OPH) 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 OPH 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 – OPH Beds (2005 to 2022), Source:  Partners in Care and Bridging the Gap.

What is Other Permanent Housing (OPH)?
OPH describes Permanent Housing with Services (no disability required) or Permanent Housing (housing only) projects that are not otherwise considered to be Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) or Rapid Re-Housing (RRH).    Examples of OPH in Hawaii includes long-term rental housing projects that prioritize households transitioning from homelessness (e.g., Kauhale Kamaile or Halona Permanent Housing on Oahu).  In addition, OPH includes Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).   The gallery below includes photos of the Kauhale Kamaile and Halona Permanent Housing projects on the Leeward Coast of Oahu.

What are Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs)?
The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program provides housing vouchers, similar to Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, that are targeted to assist individuals or families who are homeless, at-risk of homelessness, fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or human trafficking, or individuals and families who are recently homeless or have a high risk of housing instability.   Households applying for EHVs must be referred to the Public Housing Authority (PHA) in their county through the Coordinated Entry System for their respective Continuum of Care (CoC).  Each PHA and CoC may have different prioritization criteria for EHVs in their community.  A total of 708 EHVs have been awarded for PHAs in Hawaii, with the following breakdown:

  • Hawaii Public Housing Authority (Oahu only):  182
  • County of Maui:  76
  • Kauai County Housing Agency:  28
  • County of Hawaii:  110
  • City & County of Honolulu:  312

For information about how many EHVs have been used and leased up, please check the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) EHV Dashboard HERE (Please go to page 2 and filter by State for Hawaii).