HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

519

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to housing.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that housing first programs are a collaborative effort between the department of human services and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development that provides housing and support services for chronically homeless individuals, including those who have an addiction or mental illness, or both.  The principles of housing first programs include:

     (1)  Moving chronically homeless individuals into housing directly from streets and the shelters without a precondition of accepting or complying with treatment;

     (2)  Providing robust support services for program participants that are predicated on assertive engagement rather than coercion;

     (3)  Granting chronically homeless individuals priority as program participants in housing first programs;

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

     (5)  Providing program participants with leases and tenant protections as provided by law.

     The housing first programs in the State closely resemble the requirements of the United States Housing and Urban Development shelter plus care program and the Veterans Administration veteran's assisted supportive housing voucher program for homeless veterans.  In its December 2011 report to the legislature pursuant to section 346-378, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the department of human services reported that the State has six hundred fifty-eight permanent housing placements plus support services through the shelter plus care and veteran's assisted supportive housing voucher programs.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of human services to support the State's housing first programs in assisting Hawaii's chronically homeless who are often the most vulnerable, most visible, and most difficult to serve.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013-2014 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 to be deposited to the credit of the housing first special fund under section 346-377, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the department of human services to continue to administer housing first programs for chronically homeless individuals in the State.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2013.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Housing; Housing First Programs; Department of Human Services; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the department of human services to continue to administer housing first programs for chronically homeless individuals in the State.

 

 

 

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