STAND. COM. REP. NO. 59-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.B. No. 2934

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2934 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESS VETERANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to assist homeless veterans by renovating existing barracks and other structures at Kalaeloa to provide shelter.

US VETS – Hawaii testified in support of this measure. The Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii and Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the intent of this bill. The Office of Veteran Services did not support this measure.

Your Committee heard compelling testimony about the many veterans who are homeless in Hawaii. Mental illness and drug abuse contribute to the problem, and some veterans expressed concern that not enough is being done to assist them, and that the problem will just exacerbate with the current war. Sadly, US VETS – Hawaii testified that it recently enrolled the first homeless veterans from the current war in Iraq.

 

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2934 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

 

____________________________

MICHAEL P. KAHIKINA, Chair