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Our island home is often celebrated for its stunning landscapes, amazing food, and aloha spirit. Yet, hidden between the postcards and viral clips on social media lies a harsh reality that many of us overlook in our day-to-day lives: the growing crisis of homelessness.

Each year, thousands of individuals and families find themselves without a place to call home. To truly grasp the depth of this issue, we often turn to the Point in Time Count, a critical tool that sheds light on this hidden side of Hawaii.

The PIT Count serves as an annual census, aiming to quantify the number of our neighbors experiencing homelessness, both in shelters and on the streets on a single night. That date is usually during winter and correlated with the rest of the nation.

Mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, this count isn’t just about numbers. It’s a vital step in determining the federal funding and support our local communities receive to address homelessness.

It also helps us learn how we stack up next to counterparts on the continent, both in terms of gross numbers and our rate of homelessness. We will never see as many people experiencing homeless as cities like L.A. or New York City. But we actually have higher rates of homelessness than either of those metro areas.

The Count Has Limitations

Currently, the PIT Count in Hawaii is conducted by two groups: Partners in Care for Oahu and Bridging The Gap for Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui counties. Both groups gather data on sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals, providing us with a snapshot of the situation.

However, the PIT Count has its limitations. The count itself is a survey regarding where individuals stayed on one specific night; it does not capture the full extent of homelessness over the course of an entire year.

The count also leaves out many others experiencing homelessness who may not be on the street or in a shelter on the designated evening. A more comprehensive approach would be to include persons who are hospitalized (and homeless prior to admission), persons in jail who will likely be released back into homelessness and those who police are encountering or have arrested and in the cell block.

In fact, gathering such data in an ongoing manner for cumulative annual numbers would be helpful in helping to resource systems of care to assist these people to end their homeless. This would help us understand not just the number, but also the specific needs of our homelessness population.

Why Accurate Counts Matter

The importance of accurate data cannot be overstated. It directly informs the funding decisions and resource allocations required for our elected officials to tackle homelessness effectively

For example, identified 6,223 people experiencing homelessness in Hawaii, with the majority on Oahu. This data highlights where our efforts and resources are most needed.

But data about how people are accessing and/or utilizing services are important for developing effective systems of care. You can have all the services in the world to offer. But if people are not availing themselves of those services, they will not get the help they need to exit out of homeless.

A closer look at such data can also expose underlying issues, like the prevalence of mental illness and disabilities among the homeless, directing us toward advocating for more resources like workforce and programs for mental health services and housing that accommodates those with physical disabilities.

Insights And Stories

The offers us some surprising insights:

• Geographic Disparities: of no surprise was that the majority of homeless individuals were found on Oahu. But the rates of sheltered and unsheltered individuals across the counties varied greatly.
• Native Hawaiian Impact: A disproportionate 28% of the homeless population identified as Native Hawaiian.
• Disabling Conditions: Alarmingly, 62%, reported at least one disabling condition, which means housing alone will not solve our homeless problem. Medical care, behavioral health needs and emerging cognitive impairments all need a lan to address.
• Root Causes: Key factors like family conflicts and unaffordable rent as a one person household emerged as common pathways into homelessness.

These numbers tell us a story. They are more than statistics; they represent real lives – families torn apart by substance use disorders, individuals battling health issues, and a Native Hawaiian community facing disproportionate adversity related to generational trauma.

Evolving Our Approach

To effectively combat homelessness, we must improve how we measure and interpret this epidemic.

Ongoing and wide-ranging data collection will give us the insights to design more impactful policies and programs. Understanding the “why” behind these numbers can lead to more targeted and compassionate solutions as well as some prevention strategies.

Broader data collection at different points in our service systems may tell us what is behind extended periods of homelessness, which intercept points might yield the most impact, to what extent new arrivals are contributing to Hawaii’s homeless numbers, or the type(s) of trauma experienced that is often behind substance use disorders — all of which may not be surfaced with the standard interviews we currently use to collect data points on first meeting.

Relative to their relationship with service systems, it might be helpful to surface how much an individual or family may have sought services prior to becoming homeless. Were there natural helpers in their lives? Or who could become such supports as they try to re-establish themselves?

This kind of information could also provide clues to help us Identify and enhance motivation for change that is critical when dealing with chronic homelessness. Data can also reveal common themes that can guide the development of interventions and programs that are more likely to inspire courage to heal and grow.

An Incomplete Tool

The Point in Time Count is a crucial, yet incomplete, tool. It opens a window into the lives of thousands in Hawaii who struggle every day to find stability and dignity, while also reflecting historical shifts and trends. Our aim is to refine and broaden these data sets to better advocate for people experiencing homelessness and ensuring that unique local aspects of houselessness are also addressed.

Meanwhile, your active participation is vital. We invite you to join as a volunteer with Partners In Care Oahu for the 2024 Point In Time Count this Jan. 23. Your role extends beyond tallying numbers — it’s about contributing to a future where everyone has a secure home.

Let’s convert data into actionable insights and our collective compassion into a movement for our community. to get involved on Oahu.