HB1706.DOC

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the continued issuance of supplementary proclamations to the October 16, 2015, Emergency Proclamation Addressing Homelessness by the governor shows that the statewide homelessness emergency persists. The coordinated statewide homeless initiative has provided important, cost-effective homelessness diversion services and has increased coordination within the homeless service network through the statewide information and referral system on behalf of homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness.

In eighteen months, the initiative provided financial assistance to 1,610 households, assisting 4,944 adults and children who were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing short term assistance to prevent eviction and decreasing the eviction rate in family court by twenty-five per cent. The legislature further finds that the landlord coordination program, established as a part of the initiative, reached over seven thousand landlords and led to 1,596 rental placements, which is a critical element of the effort to address the homelessness issue.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys to continue and improve the coordinated statewide homeless initiative to prevent homelessness and rehouse homeless people in the State.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to continue and improve the coordinated statewide homeless initiative; provided that the following provisions shall apply:

(1) The department of human services shall:

(A) Procure the services of a contractor in accordance with chapters 103D or 103F, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(B) Have oversight of or manage the funds expended by the contractor; and

(C) In coordination with the selected contractor, develop policies and procedures for a fair and equitable procurement process consistent with the goals of public accountability and public procurement practices;

(2) The contractor shall:

(A) Operate a coalition of agencies providing homeless diversion services for the State by providing short-term financial assistance to households that have entered the eviction process;

(B) Maintain staffing of the homeless coordination center within the statewide 2-1-1 information and referral system and operation of the state-of-the-art call center system procured for the initiative;

(C) Coordinate with the coordinated entry system mandated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide navigation services and placement of homeless households into permanent housing;

(D) Provide oversight of provider operations and budget to maximize operational efficiency;

(E) Develop reporting procedures and timelines for providing performance information to respective state agencies;

(F) Provide quarterly reports to the legislature and the department of human services; and

(G) Be accountable for funds expended; and

(3) Administrative, operating, and personnel expenses shall not exceed fifteen per cent of the state award.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to continue and improve landlord outreach and liaison activities within the coordinated statewide homeless initiative; provided that the following provisions shall apply:

(1) The department of human services shall:

(A) Procure the services of a contractor in accordance with chapters 103D or 103F, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(B) Have oversight of or manage the funds expended by the contractor; and

(C) In coordination with the homeless programs office, develop policies and procedures for the implementation of a landlord liaison program, which includes recruitment of landlords and procedures for landlords to provide pre-eviction notification and obtain problem-tenant intervention and damage mitigation services;

(2) The contractor shall:

(A) Administer the landlord liaison program within the homeless coordination center established by the department of human services;

(B) Provide staffing for the landlord liaison program and space for the program within or accessible to the homeless coordination center;

(C) Provide connectivity to the 2-1-1 information and referral service and use 2-1-1 as the primary link between landlords and the program;

(D) Establish procedures to enable the landlord liaison program to coordinate with the coordinated entry system required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide navigation services and placement of homeless households into permanent housing;

(E) Provide oversight of provider operations and budget to maximize operational efficiency;

(F) Develop reporting procedures and timelines for providing performance information to respective state agencies;

(G) Provide quarterly reports to the legislature and the department of human services; and

(H) Be accountable for funds expended; and

(3) Administrative, operating, and personnel expenses shall not exceed fifteen per cent of the state award.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018

INTRODUCED BY:

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1706
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII