HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE

INTERIM OF 2010

 

COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Rep. John M. Mizuno, Chair

Rep. Tom Brower, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Della Au Belatti

Rep. Maile S.L. Shimabukuro

Rep. Joe Bertram, III

Rep. Ryan I. Yamane

Rep. Mele Carroll

Rep. Gene Ward

Rep. Scott Y. Nishimoto

 

 

COMMITTEE ON HOUSING

Rep. Rida Cabanilla, Chair

Rep. Pono Chong, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Jerry L. Chang

Rep. Sylvia Luke

Rep. Denny Coffman

Rep. Hermina M. Morita

Rep. Sharon E. Har

Rep. Roland D. Sagum, III

 

Rep. Robert N. Herkes

Rep. Corinne W.L. Ching

Rep. Ken Ito

Rep. Cynthia Thielen

Rep. Chris Lee

 

 

NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING

 

DATE:

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

TIME:

10:00 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 325

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

A G E N D A

 

The purpose of  this joint informational briefing is to identify and address the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.  Plans to address homelessness are constantly evolving in order to create a more effective system to reduce homelessness, eliminate duplication of services, seek better coordinated efforts between local, state, federal, and private homeless agencies, which will also reduce taxpayer costs.

 

The homeless population in Hawaii is 5,834[1].  Individuals, families, elderly, children, disabled, military veterans, mainland and noncitizens represent this segment of the population.

 

A short power point on homeless who are dually diagnosed, suffering from a mental illness and a drug addiction, will establish the challenges facing many of our chronically homeless.  A personal success story of a man who is dually diagnosed and was homeless for many years, but overcame his mental issues and drug addictions will follow the power point presentation. A short (5 to 7 minutes) question and answer period will be allowed for the personal presenter.

The "Housing First Pilot Program" which was passed by the Legislature and became law as Act 212 to address the chronic homeless, seeking more affordable rental units or SROs – single rental occupancy units, safe zones (House Resolution 62, HD1), family reunification (one way tickets to reunite homeless with family on the mainland), mental health and employment training transitional homeless services, present viable solutions to substantially reduce homelessness.

 

The briefing will seek to explore "best practices" to address homelessness in Hawaii and seek better coordination of homeless services between all stakeholders.

 

In conclusion, the Chairs of Housing and Human Services will summarize the foregoing concerns and viable solutions to effectively reduce homelessness in Hawaii.

 

The following organizations have been invited to participate in this briefing:

 

United State Department of Housing and Urban Development

State Department of Human Services

Hawaii Public Housing Authority

Po'ailani, Inc.

Family Promise of Hawaii

The Institute for Human Services

Safe Haven

Waikiki Health Center

Hina Mauka

Hawaii Association of Realtors

River of Life

Help the Hawaii Homeless

Word of Life Christian Center

Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

Waianae Community Outreach

State and County rental housing and low-income housing programs

Agencies and faith based organizations which receive state funding to address homelessness and other related human services or housing providers of emergency and transitional housing.

 

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the informational briefing  (i.e., sign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Committee Clerk at 586-6050 to make a request for arrangements at least 24 hours prior to the briefing.  Prompt requests help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.

 

For further information, please call the Committee Clerk at 586-6050.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

___________________________________

Rep. John M. Mizuno

Chair

 

__________________________________

Rep. Rida Cabanilla

Chair

 

 

APPROVED

 

 

__________________________________

Rep. Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker of the House

 



[1] Estimate of homeless people statewide – unsheltered and sheltered.  Star Advertiser August 12, 2010.