STAND. COM. REP. NO.900
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: S.B. No. 123
S.D. 1
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 S.B. No. 123, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to appropriates funds to:
(1) Restore adequate funding to homeless assistance programs;
(2) Maintain adequate funding to support much-needed additional shelter inventory; and
(3) Increase funding for homeless assistance by providing a deeper subsidy for families losing welfare assistance.
The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, American Friends Service Committee, Kalihi-Palama Health Center, Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance, Institute for Human Services, Inc., Hawaii Catholic Conference, Mental Health Association in Hawaii, and a concerned citizen submitted testimony in support of this measure.
The Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure. Catholic Charities Elderly Services supported this measure with amendments. Some of the testifiers had concerns regarding the funding of these programs.
Your Committee finds that homeless assistance programs in the State have sustained severe budget restrictions in the past several years. Restoring and maintaining adequate funding for these programs is critical in preventing homelessness, particularly when many families will begin to lose their welfare benefits and may be unable to meet their housing costs.
Your Committee has amended this bill to:
(1) Include assistance for residents from Kalapana, whose homes were destroyed by volcanic eruptions, by:
(a) Providing housing or self-help housing in the Kikala-Keokea homestead area;
(b) Establishing a revolving fund to provide low interest loans for home construction; and
(c) Appropriating funds for related costs;
and
(2) Repeal the Hale Kokua Homeless Assistance Program.
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 S.B. No. 123, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 123, S.D. 1, 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,
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____________________________ MICHAEL P. KAHIKINA, Chair |
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