Hawaii could be the first state to end its homeless crisis. The Puuhonua Homeless Villages Act — proposed via Senate Bill 2628 introduced by Sen. Will Espero, House Bill 2014 introduced by Rep. Tom Brower and developed by Rep. Gene Ward — would literally end the homeless crisis in Hawaii.

How? By using 21st-century building materials incorporated into modular dwellings, enough housing can be built for every homeless person, for less than 1 percent of what conventional “wood, brick and mortar housing” would cost. That’s less than we’re already spending to manage the homeless crisis.

What’s more, it could be completed in less than two years, instead of the eight to 10 years it takes to build conventional housing. Unconventional housing movements are gaining ground around the world, as a way to end homelessness. Decades of research shows that a decent, stable place to live (not shelters) helps solve both the complex causes of homelessness and the terrible consequences it has on society.

It’s simple: If this bill passes, everyone would have a home. If everyone has a home, there’s no more homeless crisis.

The “housing challenged” would still need supportive services, but we could get off the misery-go-round of sweeping the homeless from one illegal camp to another at a cost of about $500,000 per sweep. Queen’s Medical Center wouldn’t have to spend $100 million a year treating unsheltered homeless in its emergency room. Homeless drug addicts and the mentally ill would have a shot at recovery. Our parks and beaches wouldn’t be covered in hundreds of tons of trash. Debates over safe zones would be moot.

So why isn’t everyone jumping on board? Some lawmakers haven’t taken the time to read the bill. Some policy makers are still focused on wood, brick and mortar. For instance, the much-touted Kahauiki Village model is wonderful for low-income families, but doesn’t work for the very poor and chronic homeless who can’t afford to pay $700 to $900 rent. It would also cost at least $2 billion to build enough Kahauiki-like Villages to house all the homeless.

Likewise, so-called “affordable” brick-and-mortar housing, subsidized by developers and taxpayers, is unaffordable for most homeless people. Some homeless service providers are still focused on creating $3.5 billion worth of “scatter-site” conventional housing, despite the fact there’s not enough money, and there’s no sign there will ever be enough money. And even though “P” Villages could house every homeless person on only 160 acres of state land, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is wringing its hands over easements and plans to use land for other purposes.

Homelessness is the worst crisis faced by the state of Hawaii since Pearl Harbor. The “P” Homeless Villages Act is the only comprehensive plan out there. There are no other plans that foreseeably end homelessness in Hawaii. Every other bill and policy is either a piecemeal measure that helps a small percentage of the homeless population, or an aspirational statement such as “we need more affordable housing.”

The bottom line is that anyone who doesn’t support this Act is supporting the status quo by default. The status quo is madness.

Mike Goodman, an attorney and retired media company executive, is director of the Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force.