HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2318

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the homeless.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Housing first, also known as rapid re-housing, is a recent innovation in human service programs regarding the treatment of the homeless.  Housing first is an alternative to a system of emergency shelters and transitional housing progressions.  Rather than moving homeless individuals through different levels of housing on the way to independent living, housing first moves homeless individuals immediately to their own apartments.  By creating a stable housing environment, other issues can be addressed that impact the household including employment, job training, and health care.

     Homeless individuals, especially the chronically homeless, those with disabilities that include addictions and mental illnesses, are extremely fragile.  Chronically homeless individuals are the least likely of the homeless population to ever reach independent living.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a five-year housing first pilot program to address the chronically homeless population.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§184-     Parks for homeless special fund.  (a)  There is established in the state treasury the parks for homeless special fund, into which shall be deposited moneys designated by law."

     SECTION 3.  (a)  The Hawaii public housing authority and the department of human services shall develop a housing first pilot program.  The Hawaii public housing authority and the department of human services shall consult with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and community housing and homeless groups in the development process of the housing first pilot program.

     (b)  The housing first pilot program shall be developed according to the principles of housing first, specifically including:

     (1)  Moving chronically homeless individuals into housing directly from streets and shelters, without preconditions of treatment acceptance or compliance;

     (2)  Providing robust support services for program participants, predicated on assertive engagement instead of coercion;

     (3)  Continued tenancy shall not be dependent on participation in services;

     (4)  Selecting chronically homeless individuals as program participants for the purpose of the pilot program, a chronically homeless individual means a homeless person who has an addiction or mental illness, or both;

     (5)  Embracing a harm reduction approach to addictions, rather than mandating abstinence, and supporting program participant commitments to recovery; and

     (6)  Providing program participants with leases and tenant protections under the law.

     The Hawaii public housing authority and department of human services may contract with housing first consultants as necessary.

     (b)  When developing the housing first pilot program, the Hawaii public housing authority and the department of human services shall incorporate the following:

     (1)  Identification of target populations, specifically the chronically homeless who have an addiction or mental illness disability, or both;

     (2)  Developing assessments for the chronically homeless population;

     (3)  Developing service components of the housing first pilot program, including:

         (A)  Financial assistance;

         (B)  In-home case management services;

         (C)  Affordable housing requirements;

         (D)  Landlord cultivation;

         (E)  Housing placement requirements; and

         (F)  Support services for the purpose of moving program participants to self-sufficiency and independence.

     (c)  The housing first pilot program shall establish a goal of having at least fifty participants.

     SECTION 4.  Beginning with the regular session of 2011, the Hawaii public housing authority with the assistance of the department of human services shall submit an interim annual report to the legislature on the progress of the housing first pilot program no later than twenty days prior to the regular session.  After the final year of the housing first pilot program a final annual report shall be submitted to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the regular session of 2016, to include:

     (1)  Total number of participants in the housing first pilot program;

     (2)  Annual costs of the program;

     (3)  Types of support services offered;

     (4)  Number of participants, including information regarding the duration of services required for each individual; and

     (5)  Recommendations for the continuation of the project.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the parks for homeless special fund the sum of $        or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 for the housing first pilot program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2016.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Housing First Pilot Program

 

Description:

Establishes a 5-year housing first pilot program to be developed by the Hawaii public housing authority and the department of human services for homeless individuals who are chronically addicted or mentally ill.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.