RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the State, by providing transitional housing and support services, has been successful in helping to end homelessness for thousands of individuals and families whose inability to obtain and maintain housing is related to inadequate education, inadequate job skills, or poor budgeting and priority-setting practices; and

WHEREAS, there are homeless persons who, because of mental illness or substance abuse, are unable to reside successfully in public housing, shelters, or transitional housing, and who do not avail themselves of social service programs for the homeless; and

WHEREAS, for these chronically homeless, permanent housing in single living situations with intensive case management is the only alternative to living on the streets; and

WHEREAS, there are over 1,400 chronically homeless in Hawaii and this population continues to grow; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is one of eight states selected to receive technical assistance on improving access to mainstream services for the chronically homeless under a joint initiative of the federal Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Homeless Policy Academy (Academy) initiated in April, 2002, brings together state-level senior policymakers with local stakeholders to develop a state action plan to address chronic homelessness; and

WHEREAS, the Academy's mission is to plan and develop a more comprehensive and integrated system of housing and services for the chronically homeless to enable them to achieve optimal levels of health, safety, and well-being; and

WHEREAS, the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii is coordinating the efforts and work of the Academy; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii is requested to submit a report on the State's action plan to address the problem of chronic homelessness in Hawaii as developed through the Hawaii State Homeless Policy Academy, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii.

Report Title:

Hawaii State Homeless Policy Academy; Report Requested