Report Title:

Homeless Assistance

 

Description:

Repeals the "Hale Kokua" program. Appropriates funds for homeless assistance. (HB409 HD1)

 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

409

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that it is in the State's interest to help Hawaii's homeless obtain and retain permanent housing, and achieve and maintain economic independence and self-sufficiency in the long-term. The State can help move Hawaii's homeless toward self-sufficiency through assistance with health, social issues, and housing. The legislature finds that programs offering these types of assistance are more effective and efficient when they provide a continuum of services.

However, the safety net established to provide relief and recovery for Hawaii's homeless is eroding due to welfare reform and reductions in funding. Homeless shelters, the last recourse for families plunged into homelessness, may soon be unavailable to the very population that they are meant to serve. Seventy per cent of homeless families use welfare benefits to pay their program fees at homeless shelters. When the five-year welfare clock runs out on these families, their loss of welfare benefits will result in eviction for nonpayment of program fees.

In addition, where the demand for shelter services has increased over the years, the budget for state homeless programs has sustained numerous across-the-board cuts. The budget for state homeless programs is $1,300,000 less than it was in 1996. The grant program that is the primary strategy for homeless prevention is barely alive with a $61,000 annual appropriation. Without additional funding to adequately support the efforts of homeless program providers, outreach agencies and shelters will be forced to limit the numbers they serve or close their operations. Although all of the shelters maintain a waiting list for services, having a place in line on a wait list provides little comfort to those in need of immediate relief.

There are plans for shelter development to meet the growing needs of the homeless, which include:

March 2001 Seventy-two units for homeless mentally ill at Barbers Point;

March 2001 Thirty-six units for homeless families at Barbers Point;

November 2001 Thirty plus units for homeless singles and families in Maui; and

2002 Thirty units for homeless families at Waianae, Hawaii.

However, funding needed to operate these additional shelter units has not been adequately addressed.

Although the "Hale Kokua" program was intended to provide incentives and assistance to help the homeless, funding has not been available to administer the program. While the intent of this program is commendable, the legislature finds that the homeless would be better assisted through other existing programs.

The purpose of this Act is to:

  1. Repeal the homeless assistance program known as the "Hale Kokua" program; and
  2. Make appropriations to assist the homeless by:
    1. Restoring adequate funding levels to the state homeless programs;
    2. Maintaining adequate funding to support much-needed additional shelter inventory; and
    3. Increasing funding levels for homeless assistance, pursuant to chapter 201G, part IV, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by providing a deeper subsidy for those families losing their welfare benefits that requires adults in the family to participate at a level of eighty per cent or higher in self-sufficiency programs and input/output agreements.

SECTION 2. Subpart B of part IV of chapter 201G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,300,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002 and the sum of $1,500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003 to accomplish the purposes of this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the housing and community development corporation of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2001.