STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2051

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2340

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2340 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services, including the Office of Youth Services, to provide outreach services to the homeless.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, Department of Human Services, Office of Youth Services, Catholic Charities of Hawaii, Rainbow Family 808, Community Health Outreach Work Project, Hale Kipa, Waikiki Health, Hawaii Youth Services Network, LGBT Caucus Democratic Party of Hawaii, PHOCUSED, Family Support Services of West Hawaii, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Family Programs Hawaii, and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii has the highest per capita rate of homelessness of any state in the nation.  Outreach is a critical part of the coordinated efforts to provide services to this sector of the population, and more strategic outreach is needed to serve the growing percentages of homeless people who are not living in shelter programs.  Your Committee finds that unaccompanied homeless youth are among the most vulnerable of the homeless population.  National statistics show that 33 percent of teens will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.  Your Committee heard and concurs with testimony emphasizing the importance of outreach to the unaccompanied youth who struggle to get the services they need because of circumstances beyond their control.

     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. 2340 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair