HONU
Homeless Outreach and Navigation for
Unsheltered Persons
HONU has moved!
As of April 1, 2024, HONU has moved from Keehi Lagoon Beach Park to it’s new location at Neal S. Blaisdell Park in Aiea.
During its 153-day stay at Keehi Lagoon Beach Park, HONU provided services to 204 different people, and connected 119 clients with shelter or supportive housing.
Current location:
(808) 768-4668
HONU@Honolulu.gov
What is HONU
The Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons (HONU) program is a mobile triage and shelter site located on public lands, typically at City parks, for approximately 90 to 120 days. The site may serve up to 40 homeless individuals at a time. While enrolled in the program, HONU participants receive navigation services designed to identify the most immediate and appropriate shelter or housing option for them. Meals, snacks, and access to hygiene facilities are included.
HONU, also known as the Lift Mobile Navigation Center, began as a partnership between the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), the Department of Community Services (DCS), and the State of Hawaii.
Purpose
The purpose and intent of this innovative program is to provide temporary shelter and to facilitate linkages to Social Services until access to Emergency Shelter, Transitional Shelter, Permanent Housing or other housing or treatment options are available. Other activities include relocation and reunification with family on and off island.
Admission Guidelines
HONU strives to be as low-barrier as possible. Program participation guidelines are limited to the rules and restrictions necessary to operate a safe site for all participants and staff.
Program participants:
- Must be willing to voluntarily enter the program and receive shelter navigation services
- Must not be a danger to self or others, or threatening danger to self or others
- Must be able to meet activities of daily living (e.g. stand, walk, use hygiene facilities, etc.) without personal assistance from HONU staff
- Must agree to adhere to program rules while on site, including curfew, noise, behavior, no use of alcohol or illegal drugs on property, etc.
Total people assisted by HONU services
3,750
Navigated to more permanent living arrangements
2,056
As of March 31, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
HONU stands for Homeless Outreach and Navigation for the Unsheltered (Persons)
It is operated by the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Community Services in partnership with the Honolulu Police Department.
HONU is an area-based program that connects unsheltered persons to the type of housing, shelter, or treatment program that best fits the needs of the individual.
HONU also invokes the image of the Hawaiian Sea Turtle, known for making long and difficult journeys. This mirrors the strength and hope that the HONU program gives to individuals as they overcome obstacles and move towards a more stable and secure life. Additionally, the turtle’s shell serves as a protective home that it carries wherever it goes. Similarly, HONU aims to provide a sense of security and shelter to those in need, offering a safe space that supports their journey to stability.
Is HONU a tent city or safe zone?
No, HONU is not a tent city, encampment or a safe zone.
HONU is in alignment with the strategies of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness that emphasize safe, stable and permanent housing as the key to ending homelessness.
What is the difference between a safe zone/tent city and HONU?
A safe zone or tent city is a semi-permanent area lacking shelter fit for human habitation, and without an exit or service strategy.
The HONU is a temporary (90 to 120 days) navigation center with services in a setting that is dignified for persons experiencing homelessness. There are rules and services set in place to assist those wanting to transition from homelessness to shelter, housing, and services.
No, HONU is a mobile navigation center designed to provide immediate triage services to persons experiencing homelessness and connecting them to services and shelter that are most appropriate for their needs.
It is temporary in nature, meant to be in a community between 90-120 days then moves on to the next community.
What are the benefits to my community for hosting HONU?
In the communities where HONU is implemented, the Honolulu Police Department continues to actively enforce existing laws, rules, and regulations for use of public spaces within a two- to five-mile radius.
By connecting unsheltered individuals with housing and critical services, communities can address public health concerns and improve overall safety.
Outreach programs can reduce costs associated with emergency medical services, law enforcement, and other public resources often utilized in the absence of stable housing.
Programs like HONU can help reduce the visibility of homelessness, which can have a positive impact on the community.
Individuals who stay at HONU will make use of local vendors and resources, generating some economic benefit.
HONU can accommodate up to 50 participants/clients
What happens if HONU reaches a maximum of 50 people?
The maximum occupancy per tent structure is 8 persons
HONU is able to accommodate the following intakes: single females, single males, families, and couples.
If a maximum capacity is reached, new intakes will be placed on a waitlist until an available space within HONU opens up.
Will this attract more persons experiencing homelessness to the area?
No, for the 90 to 120 days that the HONU is implemented, HPD and district patrols will continue to enforce existing laws, rules and regulations for use of public spaces within a two- to five-mile radius.
HONU primarily addresses persons experiencing homelessness who already reside within a community. By connecting these people with shelter options, HONU will typically reduce homelessness in the local neighborhoods.
In the City and County of Honolulu, the most recent homeless Point-In-Time Count for 2023 estimated that there are over 4,028 homeless, unsheltered individuals on the streets each day (https://hhdw.org/2023-point-in-time-counts/)
Unsheltered individuals are often the source of calls to 9-1-1, requiring a Honolulu Police Department (HPD) officer to respond.
A simple report of nuisance crimes (e.g. blocking sidewalks, trespassing, panhandling) creates a high volume of interactions between the homeless population and HPD.
These interactions create an opportunity to offer services that may immediately take someone off the streets.
In 2018, the HPD Community Outreach Unit with its community partners conducted Health Efficiency Long-Term Partnerships (HELP) operations that assisted 189 people directly from the streets and into shelters.
HELP operations had become increasingly successful and had shown the need for a Mobile Navigation Center to route people to existing shelters and into necessary services.
Although HELP is no longer in operation, HONU has stepped in as a 24/7 navigation center that allows participants to bathe, have a meal, lay their heads to rest, receive services, and connect with resources to be placed into a shelter.
Working together as a team, the Department of Community Services (DCS), and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), as well as the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) reviewed park locations across O’ahu that allowed the hosting of a HONU site and met the following conditions, including, but not limited to:
- Being underused or in a location that minimizes negative community impact,
- Offering proximity to bus transit for clients that need a mode of transportation,
- Permission to allow small pets/animals within the perimeter of HONU,
- Offering access to water and electricity for mobile or portable showers, sinks, restrooms, power for lighting, and program operations, and
- Offering relatively level topography for site setup
Each setup is different to minimize impacting citizens who use the park facilities (bathrooms, fields, walk paths, etc.)
Why situate within a City park?
The benefits of utilizing a City park includes infrastructure, site control, and the Cityʻs existing laws allowing regulation in the area outside of the designated HONU site.
After HONU vacates a park site, HPD will continue to utilize existing ordinances to enforce park rules.
HONU will be a 24/7 operational navigation center that will be set up in select communities for a period between 90 to 120 days, or longer.
After the 90- to 120- day period, HONU then relocates to a different site. As HONU moves, so do staff, bringing services to areas with limited resources.
What will happen at HONU during the 90- to 120-days?
The tents will remain 90- to 120-days or more at each site. During that time, Community Service Specialists will assist individuals to move into transitional or permanent living arrangements elsewhere. If shelter space is not readily accessible, the HONU mobile navigation center serves as temporary shelter until space becomes available. The Honolulu Police Department will provide 24/7 security within the perimeter of the HONU site.
While there, Community Service Specialists will streamline the verification process and provide real time status on the availability of shelter and other types of housing and shelter offerings. The Community Service Specialists will offer robust social service partnerships including medical care, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, housing navigation, hygiene services, laundry services, and transportation to shelter.
HONU Community Service Specialists will also coordinate additional services: ID replacements (State ID card, Hawai’i Driverʻs license, etc.) veterinary care for pets, and meals (for those that have accepted shelter). HONU also provides additional opportunities for data collection and will provide an intake point to which law enforcement (HPD and Sheriffs) can refer an individual.
Park regulations, such as park closure hours, will be suspended in a small designated area in a City park to facilitate the establishment of HONU.
The designated area on park land would allow HONU staff to establish a mobile navigation center on a temporary, short term basis and not be restricted by current park rules, such as permitting, closure times, and camping restrictions to provide services and case management to persons experiencing homelessness.
The HONU then functions as a service-oriented hub, where services and referrals to programs are provided by HONU Community Service Specialists.
At each selected site, HONU staff will set up inflatable tents, which are manufactured to house eight individuals or up to ten family members per tent (through the use of moveable panels).
Layout is determined by each individualʻs park infrastructure and can differ with each site. Below is a sample layout from Ke’ehi Lagoon.
Funded by the State of Hawai’i initially as a three-year pilot project, HONU is managed by the Department of Community Services (DCS) in partnership with the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) and work with persons experiencing homelessness daily.
HPD will provide equipment support, location security, and enforcement of laws, and DCS will staff the mobile navigation site providing case management and housing specialist support.
In addition to the two departments, there will also be partnerships with provider outreach teams and shelters throughout O’ahu.
Yes, provided there is space for the individual. A Community Service Specialist will meet the person to initiate the assessment and interview process confirming they are willing to go into shelter or housing when it becomes available.
Behavior and willingness to participate will be the primary determining factors.
Will community members be able to refer someone in need of HONU?
Community members should call 808-768-4668 to request assistance.
Can shelters drop clients from their waitlist off at HONU?
No, the HONU is meant to act as a navigation center for all available shelter or housing vacancies and is not a holding facility for a shelter’s waitlist.
What if someone does not want to go to HONU?
Persons experiencing homelessness have the option to refuse HONU services, but will not have the option to remain in areas off limits to the public. Persons will be returned to the area they were picked up or transferred to an agreed upon service provider.
HPD will follow through with enforcement of existing laws and regulations.
Who will transport the participants to HONU?
As situations arise, the Honolulu Police Department will contact the HONU Community Service Specialist who will assess the individual and if there is space, invite them to HONU to transition from homelessness to the next available shelter or housing opportunity.
Upon acceptance of the invitation, transportation by a contracted agency will be provided to drop off participants at HONU.
The Department of Community Services will help coordinate the transportation to and from HONU through contracted services.
How much of their belongings can each participant bring to HONU?
Similar to the requirements of shelters that individuals will be going to, each participant is allowed two bags of personal belongings and up to two pets. * Pets must be considered as Emotional Support or Service Animals. Although documentation is not needed at the point of intakes for HONU, there are some service providers that do require documentation when they transition with pets.
HONU will accept small animals (dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.) that are non-aggressive.
Please note that shelters only accept a total of two animals. * Pets must be considered as Emotional Support or Service Animals. Although documentation is not needed at the point of intakes for HONU, there are some service providers that do require documentation when they transition with pets.
Will HONU accept a participant on drugs?
The primary determining factor is behavior that will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Community Service Specialists will screen participants before they enter the HONU and decide whether HONU is the best place for their particular needs. If not, they will arrange transport to a more appropriate venue.
Persons will not be permitted to use alcohol or illegal drugs at HONU.
Will people with severe mental illness be accepted?
The primary determining factor is behavior that will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Community Service Specialists will screen participants before they enter the HONU and decide whether HONU is the best place for their particular needs. If not, they will arrange transport to a more appropriate venue.
Will participants have to stay in the HONU?
No, HONU participants are able to come and go for their needs, services, and appointments.
However, they will need to be back in HONU by 8:00pm.
Persons not abiding by those rules may be asked to leave.
Will unaccompanied minors be allowed to stay overnight in the program?
No, HONU is not able to accept unaccompanied minors into the program. However, Community Service Specialists will help to connect them with another agency that is able to accommodate the individual.
Community Services Specialists will make the assessment as to whether an individual is suitable for HONU services (e.g., not aggressive, not belligerent, cooperative, not intoxicated or under the influence, willing to accept shelter or housing as soon as offered).
There will also be two HPD officers on site 24/7 within the HONU perimeter.
Staff on hand will have direct communication with the police districts in which the HONU is situated.
The family tent will be segregated from the other tents.
If someone passes through HONU and accepts shelter or is asked to leave, they will be ineligible to utilize HONU again for a minimum of 30 days. However, depending on the circumstance, the onsite-Community Service Specialist Supervisor in consult with the HONU Program Manager, will make case-by-case decisions.
The reason for the waiting period is that a participant may not be ready for re-entry into another shelter.
What is the contact information for service providers to contact HONU?
Providers can email HONU@honolulu.gov or call 808-768-4668.
The City will work with Partners In Care to clarify how persons within HONU at the time of the Point In Time Count for homelessness will be categorized before the count takes place.