HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2318
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE HOMELESS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Housing first, also known as rapid re-housing, is a recent innovation in human-service programs meant to assist homeless individuals.  Housing first is an alternative to a system of emergency shelters and transitional housing progressions.  Rather than moving homeless individuals through different levels of housing on their way to independent living, housing first moves homeless individuals immediately to their own apartments.  By creating a stable housing environment, other issues that affect the household can be addressed, including employment, job training, and health care.

     Homeless individuals, especially the chronically homeless with disabilities such as addictions and mental illnesses, are extremely fragile.  Chronically homeless individuals are the least likely of the homeless population to reach independent living.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a housing first special fund to provide housing first programs and services and to authorize the Hawaii public housing authority to implement housing first programs and services, as the authority deems appropriate for clientele who would most likely benefit and succeed from housing first programs and services, and subject to the availability of existing funds or housing first special fund moneys.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 356D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§356D‑   Housing first special fund. (a)  There is established in the state treasury the housing first special fund, into which shall be deposited appropriations by the legislature to the special fund and gifts, donations, and grants from public agencies and private persons.

Each county may provide matching funds, which shall be deposited into the housing first special fund.

(b)  Moneys in the housing first special fund shall be administered by the Hawaii public housing authority and shall be used to provide housing first programs and services."

     SECTION 3.  (a)  The Hawaii public housing authority, in collaboration with the department of human services and consultation with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, as necessary, may implement housing first programs and services, as the authority deems appropriate for clientele who would most likely benefit and succeed from the implementation of housing first programs and services, and subject to the availability of existing funds or housing first special fund moneys.

     (b)  The principles of housing first include:

     (1)  Moving chronically homeless individuals into housing directly from streets and shelters, without a precondition of accepting or complying with treatment; provided that continued tenancy through a housing first program may be dependent on participation in treatment services;

     (2)  Providing robust support services for program participants, predicated on assertive engagement instead of coercion;

     (3)  Granting chronically homeless individuals priority as program participants in housing first programs;

     (4)  Embracing a harm-reduction approach to addictions, rather than mandating abstinence, while supporting program-participant commitments to recovery; and

     (5)  Providing program participants with leases and tenant protections as provided by law.

     The Hawaii public housing authority, in collaboration with the department of human services, may contract with housing first consultants to effectuate the purpose of this Act.

     (c)  Housing first programs shall incorporate the following:

     (1)  Identification of target populations, specifically chronically homeless individuals;

     (2)  Developing assessments for the chronically homeless population;

     (3)  Developing service components, including:

         (A)  Financial assistance;

         (B)  In-home case management services;

         (C)  Affordable-housing requirements;

         (D)  Landlord cultivation;

         (E)  Housing-placement requirements; and

         (F)  Support services to move program participants toward self-sufficiency.

     SECTION 4.  As used in this Act, "chronically homeless individual" means a homeless individual who has an addiction, mental illness, or both an addiction and mental illness.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2016.

Report Title:

HPHA; Housing First Special Fund; Housing First Principles

Description:

Establishes the housing first special fund.  Authorizes the Hawaii public housing authority to implement housing first programs and services, as the authority deems appropriate for clientele who would most likely benefit and succeed from housing first programs, and subject to the availability of existing funds or housing first special fund moneys.  Takes effect 7/1/2020 and sunsets 7/30/2016.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.