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On July 25, 2025, the Trump administration issued several statements regarding houselessness in the United States and proposed several responses to it. The responses are essentially a call to institutionalize those who are houseless, to criminalize those who are living on the street, and to categorize the houseless as predominantly drug users or mentally ill. The President’s Executive Order threatens to cut off federal financial assistance to locales that do not institutionalize or criminalize the houseless.
The Episcopal Church, through its General Conventions, has, over the last many years, asserted that efforts to criminalize and demonize the houseless are antithetical to the Christian faith. Instead, The Episcopal Church has advocated for the continued strengthening of our social safety net, particularly in the area of housing, and has repeatedly affirmed that housing is a fundamental human right that should be provided to all individuals residing in the country. The Episcopal Church has also advocated for legislation that provides adequate levels of support and opportunities for low-income housing by investing in Community Development Corporations.
In short, and contrary to the current statements by the Trump administration, The Episcopal Church has long recognized that houselessness is a consequence of economic disparity, insufficient government spending on affordable and low-income housing, and insufficient wage growth. While there is no doubt that many who are houseless in fact experience drug abuse or mental illness, many of these very same people did not begin that way. Instead, drug abuse and mental illness are too often a consequence of houselessness rather than the reverse.
In the 1980s, the Reagan administration significantly reduced federal funding for low-income housing. Since the 1980s, no new federally funded low-income housing has been built. Such housing is typically directed at those earning 30% or less of the Area Median Income. Instead, considerable efforts were made to encourage people to enter the private sector through Section 8 vouchers. Unfortunately, the private sector cannot absorb the number of people who are in need of low-income housing.
Accordingly, it is the position of the Diocese of Hawaiʻi, consistent with the position of The Episcopal Church, that we need to improve our social safety net, increase the amount of construction of affordable housing, both privately and publicly funded, and provide expanded services to people who find themselves in the difficult situation of being houseless.
Institutionalizing such people or criminalizing their circumstances will dramatically worsen the situation by further demonizing and ostracizing individuals who are in need of significant assistance.
We therefore call upon all Episcopalians in Hawaiʻi to support legislative and other efforts to increase the housing supply, to increase the availability of treatment opportunities for those who are mentally ill, and for those who are suffering from drug addiction. In addition, an increase in the minimum wage is imperative so that those who do work can actually afford a roof over their head. Many people who live in their cars or on the streets are often employed but simply do not earn a sufficient income to afford housing.
We applaud Governor Green’s efforts, along with the Hawaiʻi legislature, to increase the availability of tiny homes and other creative housing solutions for individuals. These tiny home villages often come equipped with treatment personnel and job training opportunities. These are the kinds of programs that we as a Diocese ought to be supporting. We ought not ever seek to demonize or criminalize those who are the least among us.
Here are links for more information on the situation, resources, and ways to get involved.
“He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, “My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.” Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, “When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?” The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” Mt 25: 33-40.
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