STAND. COM. REP. NO. 916-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2281

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2281, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish within the Department of Human Services and appropriate funds for the Ohana Zones Program to provide housing to homeless individuals and families based on principles similar to housing first programs; and

(2) Appropriate moneys to the Department of Human Services, Department of Health, and Hawaii Public Housing Authority to support various efforts to end homelessness, including public housing, rapid rehousing and the State's rent supplement program, housing first, Oahu's family assessment center, the law enforcement assisted diversion program, and civil legal services.

IMUAlliance, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii supported this measure. The Department of Human Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Aloha United Way, and The Queen's Health Systems provided comments.

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 H.B. No. 2281, 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