Emergencies, for the most part, have a clear starting point then abatement, such as a hurricane. With no sign that the state’s homeless crisis will end any time soon — though we wish it would — one has to wonder how many more emergency proclamations Gov. David Ige will sign to remove red tape in addressing the highest per capita homeless rate in the nation. And, how effective they’ve been, given the extraordinary suspension of protocols.

Ige’s first homeless proclamation was signed on Oct. 16 and the fourth, and most current, runs through April 23. While Ige can be commended for ramping up some response to the issue, it’s questionable that there have been enough results in the emergency afflicting Hawaii’s 7,000-plus homeless people.

Ige’s administration has signed eight emergency proclamations since taking office in 2014, half of which addressed homelessness. The other crises were more clearcut: the Puna lava flow; Tropical Depression C3, which became Hurricane Kilo; Hurricane Ignacio disaster relief; and mosquito-borne illnesses.

Proclaiming an emergency allows the state to waive procurement and other normal procedures, quickening the pace of efforts. The expectation, though, is to see tangible, meaningful results.

Colin Moore, director of the University of Hawaii’s Public Policy Center, rightly asked, “When do you go back to the state of normal governing? With homelessness, it is not a natural disaster that has a clear beginning and end.”

The state is dangerously close to the point where continuing to declare homelessness an emergency is no longer acceptable to justify why critical steps are being skipped and contracts are being awarded without proper bidding processes. Further, emergency extensions glaringly highlight the failure of government officials to make headway on problems via normal courses of action. The homeless proclamations have allowed the state to funnel money quickly to numerous projects:

>> Distributing $312,500 in increased funding for Oahu and up to $250,000 for neighbor islands for Housing First programs to house chronically homeless people with alcohol, drug and mental health issues.

>> Executing a contract with Aloha United Way to distribute $4.6 million in rental and utility assistance. AUW also will provide a centralized 211 phone system to better direct the homeless to appropriate agencies, and commission a study to look at three specific homeless populations.

>> Increasing the number of beds at Kauai County’s only full-service emergency shelter from 19 to 39.

Against the overall scope of 7,000-plus homeless, however, grander results are needed — not a new study, improving a hotline and 20 additional beds.

When Gov. Linda Lingle signed emergency proclamations addressing homelessness starting in July 2006, that helped create the Next Step Shelter in Kakaako and transitional shelters on the Leeward Coast, among other initiatives. Back then, the homeless proclamation also was extended numerous times. Under her fourth supplemental proclamation, the goal was to complete work on three shelters that ended up providing more than 200 living units — space for 650 homeless people. Concrete goals.

Specific projects should be outlined if Ige pursues further homeless proclamations. Under the current one, it includes Maui County’s effort to establish a long-term housing project in Wailuku, and extends to “all counties for the repair and maintenance of existing county shelters.” Such loose wording opens the door to favoritism without procedural checks.

Scott Morishige, the state’s homeless coordinator, said the Ige administration is being “very intentional in making sure it’s not a broad use of powers that can be applied under the cover of addressing homelessness.”

But therein lies the danger in extending the emergency powers without clearly defined goals. If working within the norms of government is too cumbersome and lengthy, then those processes need reform.