Hawaiʻi County Issues RFP for West Hawaiʻi Cot Sleeping Program

News Release from County of Hawaiʻi Office of Housing and Community Development, May 11, 2026

The County of Hawaiʻi Office of Housing and Community Development has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to establish an emergency cot sleeping program in West Hawaiʻi. The RFP is part of ongoing efforts to expand emergency shelter capacity and respond to community needs related to homelessness.

The RFP seeks a qualified provider to operate the program, offering a safe, low-barrier, overnight shelter for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The program will operate nightly and provide supervised cot sleeping accommodations, meals, hygiene access, and secure space for personal belongings, along with connections to housing navigation, outreach, and supportive services.

The selected provider will 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.

This initiative is funded through the County’s Homelessness and Housing Fund (HHF) and reflects the growth and expansion of the successful cot sleeping program currently operating in East Hawaiʻi. From August 30, 2024, through March 31, 2026, the East Hawaiʻi program delivered 19,650 shelter bed nights to individuals experiencing homelessness.

(DO THE MATH: 19,650 / 19 months = 1,034 cot nights per month / 30 = 34.5 homeless housed per day)

“Expanding the emergency cot sleeping program from East Hawai‘i to West Hawaiʻi reflects our administration’s commitment to meeting people where they are and ensuring everyone has a safe place to sleep,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda. “This is about responding to urgent needs in our West Hawaiʻi 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 may submit questions through May 15 and final proposals must be submitted by 4 p.m. on June 2.

Full details, including eligibility requirements and submission instructions, are available at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/hawaiicounty/projects/258395.

The expansion of emergency cot sleeping programs to West Hawaiʻi 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 as part of a broader West Hawaiʻi housing and stabilization campus.

About the Homelessness and Housing Fund

The Homelessness and Housing Fund (HHF) was established in 2022 and is currently allocated no less than $9 million of Residential Tier Two property tax revenues annually to address homelessness and housing in Hawai’i County. The fund is set to expire in 2027. For more details about the HHF or to join the mailing list for future updates, contact ohcdengagement@hawaiicounty.gov.

(IDEA: Audit this fund.)

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