The city and state plan a deeper, data-driven approach to address homelessness starting in January that also could tap into city police and park drone images to gauge homeless activity across Oahu in real time.

The new approach represents the latest evolution to address homelessness on Oahu, said Jun Yang, the state’s homeless coordinator who had worked with former Mayor Kirk Caldwell to get more help for Honolulu’s homeless.

“I want to share data as best as we can so we can make the best decisions and tell funders,” Yang said. ‘This is the direction were going in.’”

A new, homeless “command center” will open in January at new city offices at the former Central Pacific Bank building on North School Street for the Department of Community Services, which oversees the city’s homeless effor

See Full Page