STAND. COM. REP. NO. 270

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1243

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1243 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Department of Human Services to:

          (A)  Establish and implement residential campgrounds with full supportive services for the homeless that utilize undeveloped government land located in industrial zones; and

          (B)  Submit an annual report containing information about the residential campgrounds and its residents to the Legislature; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to establish and implement the residential campgrounds, including the hiring of necessary staff.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Human Services, and IMUAlliance.

     Your Committees find that due to economic constraints, the supply of subsidized housing is, and will continue to be, woefully insufficient for the foreseeable future.  Consequently, illegal homeless camps, which are a public health menace, are ubiquitous.  The State must therefore adopt emergency measures that can be implemented quickly within current budgetary constraints.  Exploring the establishment of transitional housing centers will ensure that homeless individuals are housed and receive much needed support services.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting language that:

     (1)  Authorizes the Department of Human Services to establish a transitional housing center pilot project;

     (2)  Identifies Sand Island Beach Park as a potential location for the transitional housing center pilot project;

     (3)  Allows the Department of Human Services to seek assistance from private, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations to provide support services for the homeless in conjunction with the pilot project; and

     (4)  Allows the Department of Human Services to consider establishing a transitional housing center pilot project in east Oahu.

     Your Committees note the concerns from the Department of Land and Natural Resources relating to the potential legal challenges to the use of Sand Island Beach Park as a possible location for a transitional housing center.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1243, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1243, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair