RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, addressing the needs of those living without a permanent shelter has been an extremely difficult situation to manage; and

WHEREAS, many groups and individuals are doing admirable work in feeding the homeless and trying to find them employment, job training, housing, and substance abuse and mental health services; and

WHEREAS, despite the efforts of many to manage the issue of homelessness, the problem continues to increase and communities, which are concerned about the health and safety of their residents, have demanded that the homeless be removed from areas in their communities where they congregate; and

WHEREAS, recent removals of the homeless have occurred at several locations on Oahu so that the public can regain use of public areas and for a reduction of the perceived threat of criminal activity in the community; and

WHEREAS, even those who must remove the homeless from public areas, and those residents concerned about health and safety issues posed by the homeless, understand that removal from a location will not address the underlying reasons for homelessness, whether they be societal or personal ones; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature is attempting to address long-term solutions to homelessness, including repairing or building hundreds of public housing units, housing subsidies and services, employment and job training programs, ways of combating substance abuse, and food distribution programs; and

WHEREAS, while long-term solutions are desirable, they cannot respond to the immediate problems faced by homeless people who have been recently moved; and

WHEREAS, one solution being considered is for federal, state, and county governments to designate areas of large parks where the homeless can stay at night in a supervised setting; and

WHEREAS, implementation of even short-term programs is rarely immediate, yet the current plight of the homeless is an immediate and all-encompassing reality; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislature requests federal, state and county governments to immediately place a moratorium upon activity designed to remove the homeless and their belongings from large public parks; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this moratorium should stay in effect until a program can be implemented by appropriate government agencies to designate areas of large public parks as places where the homeless can stay under supervision; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and to the Mayor and the Chair of the Council of each county.

Report Title:

Moratorium on Removal of the Homeless from Public Areas