Honolulu is making its mobile mental health and addiction response program permanent, good news for homeless residents on Oahu and for police who keep getting called to the same crises.

• The MH3 program sends mental health workers, not just officers, to help homeless people in crisis.
• It has already helped 150 people across Oahu and now has permanent status instead of trial funding.
• Honolulu police back the program because it takes pressure off officers dealing with a recurring problem.
• City leaders want to grow it beyond Oahu and run it across the whole state.

Outlook: Expect a push to take the program statewide, which will depend on finding the money and staff to do it.