SB2370

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that homelessness in Hawaii is a long-term problem. The legislature acknowledges that homelessness requires greater collaboration and coordination among diverse government entities, businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations. Accordingly, the legislature enacted Act 105, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012 (Act 105). Act 105, in part, formally established the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness, which was temporarily created through Executive Order No 11-21, and allowed the council to continue identifying critical strategic goals and initiatives that would mitigate homelessness while ensuring that persons experiencing homelessness obtain permanent housing and become reintegrated into the community. As one of its statutory duties, the council adopted a ten-year plan on September 10, 2012. At that time, the point-in-time count or the annual one-day unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the State totaled 7,921 statewide. Eight years later, in 2020, the point-in-time count totaled 6,458.

While the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness has a ten-year plan, the legislature further finds that the State lacks a long-term commitment to reduce, prevent, and end homelessness. Various state agencies and programs that address homelessness have been built up on a piecemeal basis and have approached homelessness in a similar manner. There is no central agency tasked to find solutions to homelessness through reduction and prevention by coordinating state and local government agencies and private entities.

The legislature recognizes that year-to-year funding, rather than consistent funding in the base budget, creates uncertainty for the staff of a program to continue their duties and responsibilities. For example, in 2019, the legislature enacted Act 81, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, which appointed the governor's coordinator on homelessness to administer and enforce the duties and responsibilities of the council. The coordinator is currently funded as a special project under the department of human services, while the coordinator's full-time staff of five are not permanent employees. In addition, year-to-year funding among agencies and providers for homeless services threatens already potentially sporadic and fragmented services, instead of providing consistent support that will help permanently house persons experiencing homelessness in the State.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Establish the office on homelessness and housing solutions; and

(2) Make an appropriation.

SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part .

oFFICE ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS

§ -1 Definitions As used in this part, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Coordinator" means the governor's coordinator on homelessness as provided in section 346-381.5.

"Fund" means the homelessness and housing solutions special fund.

"Office" means the office on homelessness and housing solutions.

§ -2 Office on homelessness and housing solutions; establishment. There is established within the department of budget and finance, for administrative purposes only, an office on homelessness and housing solutions that shall:

(1) Work with state, county, and community agencies to develop solutions that prevent and end homelessness through transitional and permanent housing and supportive and/or assisted services; and

(2) Test innovative solutions to prevent and end homelessness.

§ -3 Administration. (a) The office on homelessness and housing solutions shall be headed by the governor's coordinator on homelessness, appointed under section 346-381.5, for the proper administration and enforcement of this part.

(b) The coordinator shall report directly to the governor and appoint staff as may be necessary.

§ -4 Duties and responsibilities. The office shall:

(1) Identify and address system gaps by:

(A) Developing and implementing homelessness and housing strategies, including but not limited to exemptions for homeless shelters, mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities, and supportive housing projects;

(B) Developing a standard strategy for coordinated entry, needs assessment, and allocation of services and housing types to create pathways to permanent assisted and independent housing;

(C) Working with state departments and agencies to develop and maintain multi-year strategic and tactical plans and road maps as a part of the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness' ten-year statewide plan;

(D) Coordinating matters relating to homelessness and affordable housing between state and county agencies and private entities; and

(E) Developing and testing innovative solutions to homelessness through collaboration with appropriate agencies;

(2) Provide administrative support for the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness to develop its unified ten-year statewide plan to address homelessness in all counties of the State; and

(3) Establish and maintain a statewide homelessness and shelter and housing data clearinghouse, which may include information on persons experiencing homelessness, and available services, shelters, and housing.

§ -5 Annual report. The coordinator shall submit an annual report to the legislature on the progress of its activities, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session. The report shall also include:

(1) Performance metrics relating to reducing the numbers on homelessness;

(2) Performance metrics relating to housing and services inventory gaps, including but not limited to the number of persons experiencing homelessness served and placed into permanent housing and the cost per person served;

(3) Performance metrics to evaluate the State's performance on homeless services, housing, care coordination and other needed services to end homelessness; and

(4) An inventory of available vacant land provided by state agencies that administer public lands.

§ -6 Homelessness and housing solutions special fund. (a) There is established in the state treasury the homelessness and housing solutions special fund, into which shall be deposited:

(1) Appropriations by the legislature to the fund; and

(2) Gifts, donations, and grants from public agencies and private persons.

(b) All interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited in the fund shall become part of the fund.

(1) Expand tested solutions aimed to end homelessness, such as the homeless outreach and navigation for unsheltered persons program, ohana zones, law enforcement assisted diversion, and community outreach courts;

(2) Provide financial assistance to public and private agencies in accordance with chapter 42F involved in homelessness and housing solutions other than those covered by this section;

(3) Test, develop, and assess innovative housing solutions; and

(4) Cover administrative and operational costs of the office."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general fund revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 to be deposited into the homelessness and housing solutions special fund.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the homelessness and housing solutions special fund the sum of $2,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the administration of the office of homelessness and housing solutions.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of budget and finance for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2370
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII