STAND. COM. REP. NO. 495

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 902
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred H.B. No. 902 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESS SHELTER STIPENDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to prevent homelessness by:

     (1)  Setting homeless shelter stipends at emergency shelters
          at $20 per bed per night; and

     (2)  Appropriating $1,500,000 for the stipends.

     Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center, Catholic
Charities, and the Health Care for the Homeless Project submitted
testimony in support of this measure.  The Institute for Human
Services and the Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance
submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.
The Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii
submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure as
long as it does not compromise the State's Executive Budget
request.

     Your Committee finds that while raising the stipend rate
from the current $13 per shelter bed per night to $20 per shelter
bed per night is welcome, this is not the priority of emergency
shelters.  Instead, available funds should be used for
transitional housing projects and the Emergency Grant and Loan

 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 495
                                 Page 2

 
Program (Program) as it would better meet the needs of the
homeless.

     Your Committee further finds that other services for the
homeless are necessary, such as classes on parenting, violence
prevention, and child safety, and recognizes the need for more
resources.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Replacing the appropriation with $1 for purposes of
          further discussion;

     (2)  Adding a findings and purpose section;

     (3)  Deleting the provision that sets homeless shelter
          stipends at emergency shelters at $20 per night;

     (4)  Appropriating funds to transitional housing projects
          and the Program; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 902, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 902, H.D.
1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Human Services
                                   and Housing,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair