STAND. COM. REP. NO. 235

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 910

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Education and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 910 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF HOMELESS PROGRAMS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to transfer the State's homeless programs branch of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to the Benefit, Employment, and Support Services Division within the Department of Human Services.  This transfer is intended to improve the Department of Human Services' coordination and delivery of homeless services to Hawaii's homeless population.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Human Services; the Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Catholic Charities Hawaii; Waianae Community Outreach; and one individual.  The State Procurement Office provided comments on the measure.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that the State's homeless programs are currently housed within the Public Housing Authority.  The Public Housing Authority's homeless services branch serve many of the same clients as the Benefit, Employment, and Support Services Division, creating overlap, duplication of efforts, and unnecessary expenditures and costs by both branches.  Further, because services for the homeless population are provided by two different branches within the Department of Human Services, there are gaps in the provision of services and a failure to streamline and coordinate activities.  Many individuals are unsure of all the benefits and programs for which they may be eligible because of this lack of coordination.  Transferring the homeless services branch from the State's Public Housing Authority to the Benefit, Employment, and Support Services division of the Department of Human Services will improve client outcomes, provide for efficient allocation of funds, and enhance customer service.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Education and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 910 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Education and Housing,

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair