STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1206

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 4

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.C.R. No. 4 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DECLARING HOMELESSNESS TO BE A MEDICAL CONDITION IN THE STATE FOR PURPOSES OF MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY AND RECOGNIZING THAT HOUSING INSTABILITY IS A MAJOR HEALTH FACTOR THAT NEGATIVELY AFFECTS HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS' HEALTH AND WELL-BEING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to declare homelessness to be a medical condition in the State for purposes of Medicaid eligibility and to recognize that housing instability is a major health factor that negatively affects homeless individuals' health and well-being.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association, Faith Action for Community Equity, and one individual.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and Department of Human Services.

     Your Committees find that homeless persons face a myriad of issues, including general health care, mental illness, substance abuse, loss of employment and income, and a lack of affordable housing.  These issues affecting homeless persons also impact the general population as the costs to the entire continuum of care, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home-based services, for treating the State's homeless population continue to increase.

     Your Committees further find that there is an integral link between health and housing, especially for individuals who are chronically homeless.  Without housing, individuals often struggle to address their health conditions, while people who are unable to address their health challenges often struggle to obtain and retain housing.  By recognizing the positive impact that housing stability can have on the health care of homeless individuals, committing resources to assist homeless individuals with stable housing will not only improve the health and well-being of homeless individuals, but it will also provide the State with an opportunity to incur less health care costs for homeless individuals over their lifetime.

     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 concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 4 and recommend that it 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