STAND. COM. REP. NO. 221

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 904

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 904 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HOMELESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services to locate suitable properties for a Housing First program to implement affordable rental housing projects.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Chancery Office of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, Hawaii Catholic Conference, St. Stephen Diocesan Center, Hawaii Family Forum, Waianae Community Outreach, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Housing Alliance, and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that Housing First, also known as rapid re-housing, is a recent innovation in human service programs regarding the treatment of the homeless.  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 the way to independent living, Housing First moves homeless individuals immediately to their own apartments.  By creating a stable housing environment, other issues can be addressed that impact the household including employment, job training, and health care.

     Your Committee further finds that the Housing First model has been very successful in many areas of the Mainland.  Housing First has a good record with assisting homeless people gain permanent housing and providing the services needed to successfully transition homeless people off the streets.

     Your Committee also finds that section 346-378, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, to implement Housing First programs and services.  Your Committee finds this measure to be an effective way of implementing Housing First programs.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 904, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 904, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair