STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1474

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 515

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 515, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist individuals who face or experience homelessness by funding and establishing various homeless and housing programs.  Among other things, this measure:

(1)  Appropriates funds to:

(A)  The Department of Human Services to assist families experiencing, and at risk of experiencing homelessness, with housing placement and employment services;

(B)  The Department of Health to provide clean and sober housing support services;

(C)  The Department of Human Services to support the State's Housing First Program for chronically homeless individuals in the State; and

(D)  The Department of Human Services to provide matching funds for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Shelter Plus Care Program;

(2)  Establishes and appropriates funds for the Return-to-Home Program, a voluntary assistance program to provide eligible homeless individuals with assistance in being reunited with family and relatives in the individual's home state outside of Hawaii;

(3)  Authorizes and appropriates funds for the designation of temporary nighttime parking lots as safe overnight locations for homeless persons to live and sleep in their motor vehicles that would otherwise be parked on private or public roads or property; and

(4)  Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to establish safe haven campsites, with and without durational restrictions, for persons who are homeless.

The Community Alliance for Mental Health, United Self Help, and Catholic Charities Hawaii supported this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Human Services, Department of Health, City and County of Honolulu, Partners In Care, Housing Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, and an individual commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 515, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair