HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Gov. David Ige is naming a new state leader to tackle the issue of homelessness.
Ige said Monday that Scott Morishige will join the administration as the governor’s coordinator on homelessness on Aug. 24. Morishige is now executive director of the nonprofit organization PHOCUSED. His work has included gathering information about the growing number of homeless families and where people wind up after they leave shelters.
Ige says Morishige has a deep commitment to strengthening human services in Hawaii and that he understands how to develop and sustain programs.
A team of city, state and federal officials also met about the issue of homelessness Monday. After that meeting state Sen. Jill Tokuda said up to $5 million in emergency funding from the Legislature would be available to tackle homelessness.