‘Cot sleeping program’ being expanded to West Hawaii
The Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development issued a request for proposals on Monday to establish an “emergency cot sleeping program” in West Hawaii.
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The Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development issued a request for proposals on Monday to establish an “emergency cot sleeping program” in West Hawaii.
The proposed program would be part of an ongoing effort to expand emergency shelter capacity and respond to homelessness in the community.
A qualified provider is being sought by the county to operate the program, which would offer safe, simple overnight accommodations for unsheltered homeless people. The program is designed to operate nightly and provide supervised sleeping, meals, hygiene access, and secure space for personal belongings, along with connections to housing navigation, outreach and support services.
The selected provider would be “responsible for securing an appropriate site, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and delivering services in a manner that promotes safety, dignity, and respect for all participants,” according to a county press release.
Funding would comes from the OHCD’s Homelessness and Housing Fund and the state’s Ohana Zones Program.
Read more ‘Cot sleeping program’ being expanded to West Hawaii
The cot sleeping program in West Hawaii is an expansion of a similar effort currently operating in East Hawaii, which delivered 19,650 shelter bed nights to homeless individuals from Aug. 30, 2024, to March 31, 2026.
This comes ahead of the anticipated spring 2027 opening of the Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center at Kukuiola Village in Kailua-Kona. The facility will provide emergency shelter units, safe overnight parking, and coordinated access to services.
“Expanding the emergency cot sleeping program from East Hawaii to West Hawaii reflects our administration’s commitment to meeting people where they are and ensuring everyone has a safe place to sleep,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda in the press release. “This is about responding to urgent needs in our West Hawaii communities while continuing to support individuals on their path toward stability and long-term housing solutions.”
The request for proposals was released on May 1. Interested providers can submit questions through May 15 and final proposals must be submitted by 4 p.m. on June 2.
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Email Stefan Verbano at [email protected].
