STAND. COM. REP. NO.132
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: H.B. No. 73
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 73 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to provide funding for homeless assistance.
Specifically, this
bill:(1) Restores adequate funding levels to state homeless programs;
(2) Maintains adequate funding to support additional shelter inventory; and
(3) Increases funding levels for homeless assistance by providing a deeper subsidy for those families losing their welfare benefits.
Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (supports intent provided that it does not adversely impact priorities in the executive biennium budget), the City and County of Honolulu Department of Community Services, and the following private organizations: Catholic Charities Elderly Services and Community and Immigrant Services, Health Care for the Homeless Project, Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance, Hawaii Catholic Conference, Homeless Solutions, Salvation Army Family Treatment Services, Gregory House Programs, and Institute for Human Services, Inc.
Your Committee finds that the safety net established to provide relief and recovery for Hawaii's homeless is eroding, and that the State must do more to help Hawaii's homeless to become more stable by providing assistance with health, housing, and social issues in order to retain permanent housing and maintain economic independence and self-sufficiency in the long-term.
Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Adding the contents of S.B. No. 586 (2001), which establishes a housing revolving fund to provide low-interest loans for home construction for Kikala-Keokea leaseholders who have been denied loans from traditional financial institutions, to be administered by the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii;
(2) Adding the contents of H.B. No. 409 (2001), which repeals the homeless assistance program known as the "Hale Kokua" program; and
(3) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments.
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. 73, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 73, 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,
|
____________________________ MICHAEL P. KAHIKINA, Chair |
||