REPORT TITLE:
Homeless Shelters


DESCRIPTION:
Makes an appropriation for homeless shelters. (HB401 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        401
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The number of homeless persons in Hawaii has
 
 2 risen dramatically over the past five years, creating an
 
 3 increased need for homeless shelters and services.  In 1992, an
 
 4 appropriation of $3,000,000 was made for 5,532 homeless persons.
 
 5 In 1997, the number had risen to 12,629 homeless persons, and by
 
 6 1998, the number had risen once again to 12,887 homeless persons,
 
 7 with no corresponding increase in appropriations since 1992.
 
 8      The legislature finds that the fastest growing segment of
 
 9 the homeless population are families with children, which
 
10 constitute approximately forty per cent of people who become
 
11 homeless.  On any given night, an estimated twenty per cent of
 
12 the homeless population are families.
 
13      The legislature further finds that approximately twenty to
 
14 twenty-five per cent of the single adult homeless population
 
15 suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness.
 
16 According to the Federal Task Force on Homeless and Severe Mental
 
17 Illness, only five to seven per cent of homeless persons with
 
18 mental illness require institutionalization.  Most of these
 
19 individuals can live in the community with appropriate supportive
 
20 housing options.
 

 
Page 2                                                     401
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      The demand for programs and services far exceeds the
 
 2 capacity of homeless shelters to accept everyone in need.
 
 3 Homeless shelters are on the brink of closing important programs
 
 4 due to a lack of funds.
 
 5      The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for homeless
 
 6 shelters and homeless services.
 
 7      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 8 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof
 
 9 as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 to fund homeless
 
10 shelters and homeless services, including per person stipends
 
11 paid to homeless shelters.
 
12      SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
13 housing and community development corporation of Hawaii for the
 
14 purposes of this Act.
 
15      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.