Quick Facts: Hawaii
Performance Breakdown
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Law & Policy: 69% of metrics met
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Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 42% of metrics met
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Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 67% of metrics met
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Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 75% of metrics met
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Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 83% of metrics met
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Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 83% of metrics met
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Systems: 44% of metrics met
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Environment: 24% of metrics met
State Score 2022: 57
State Ranking 2022: 21
2022 Score
2021 Score
57
57
Hawaii Highlights
One area where Hawaii has moved the needle relative to other states is providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently.
Law & Policy
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The state allows shelters to take in homeless youth with a delay or waiver of notification requirements.
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The state can waive or not require parental consent for emancipation.
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The state allows unaccompanied youth under 18 to apply for health insurance coverage on their own.
Systems
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The state provides tuition waivers for foster youth.
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There is a state interagency council on homelessness.
Environment
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The state promotes safe and inclusive environments in child welfare and juvenile justice programs by providing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
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The state has banned conversion therapy for minors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the Aloha State, with emphasis on the Law & Policy and Environment categories. Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness, addressing their educational needs, and protecting the rights and interests of youth experiencing homelessness, including LGBTQ+ youth, should be prioritized.
Law & Policy
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Establish a state Runaway & Homeless Youth Act.
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The state should establish a process for emancipation.
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The state should require permanency planning for committed adjudicated youth.
Systems
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The current state plan to end homelessness should include a youth and LGBTQ+ component.
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Create a state entity – such as an Office of Homeless Youth Services – that focuses solely on designing, implementing, and evaluating youth homelessness programs.
Environment
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The state should establish and maintain stipends for a community advisory board that informs youth homelessness policy (Youth Action Board).
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Require training about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, healthy sexual development, or issues specific to LGBTQ youth for staff working in runaway and homeless youth systems.
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The state should establish nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ youth in youth homelessness services.