Bill Text: DE HCR66 | 2013-2014 | 147th General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: Establishing The Task Force On Delaware’s Homeless To Study And Make Findings And Recommendations Regarding Safe And Fair Housing.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-06-19 - Introduced in House and assigned to Housing & Community Affairs Committee [HCR66 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2013-HCR66-Draft.html
|
SPONSOR: |
Rep. Bolden & Sen. Marshall & Sen. Townsend |
|
|
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 147th GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
|
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 66 |
|
ESTABLISHING THE TASK FORCE ON DELAWARE'S HOMELESS TO STUDY AND MAKE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SAFE AND FAIR HOUSING. |
WHEREAS, shelter is a basic human need; and
WHEREAS, a stable, quality, affordable home promotes family stability, physical and mental health and enhances both adults' and children's ability to be productive, and conversely, the lack of a stable, quality, affordable home increases the risk of illness, failure at school, inability to find or hold a job, incarceration and nursing home placement, often at public expense; and
WHEREAS, numerous Delawareans spent at least one night in an emergency or transitional housing program, not including those individuals living on the street, under bridges, in parks or sleeping in someone else's house temporarily; and
WHEREAS, the National Alliance to End Homelessness reported nearly 1,000 homeless Delawareans in 2013; and
WHEREAS, the National Alliance to End Homelessness also reported nearly 500 homeless Delawareans in 2013 were homeless persons in families; and
WHEREAS, homeless pregnant mothers are less likely to have received adequate prenatal care and more likely to be young and without a high school education; and
WHEREAS, children born to homeless mothers are more likely to be born prematurely and at a low birth weight, and have higher than average rates of chronic health conditions such as asthma, evidence high rates of chronic ear infections and are at increased risk for iron-deficiency anemia and lead toxicity; and
WHEREAS, for many children, homelessness represents many risks, including the likelihood of experiencing an array of health challenges; and
WHEREAS, in addition to health-related risks, research demonstrates that children experiencing homelessness are more likely to have been exposed to family violence; and
WHEREAS, the effects of childhood homelessness do not end with childhood, as homeless children experience higher rates of physical and sexual risk behaviors and are more likely to take illegal substances; and
WHEREAS, homeless children show higher rates of poor mental health, are less likely to graduate from high school, and are more likely to end up incarcerated; and
WHEREAS, the adverse influence of childhood homelessness on children's health, development and well-being is associated with short-term and long-term societal costs that far exceed the cost of providing shelter alone and creates a costly toll on society;
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 147th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Safe and Fair Housing for the Homeless Task Force ("Task Force") be established to study and make findings and policy recommendations examining the causes and impacts of homelessness in the State of Delaware, such as health care costs and incarceration rates, and proposing methods to permanently reduce and eliminate homelessness and promote the fair treatment of Delawareans while experiencing homelessness in this State.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force be composed of the following members:
1. Two members of the Delaware House of Representatives, one of whom shall be designated to serve as chair, appointed by the Speaker of the House,
2. Two members of the Delaware Senate,one of whom shall be designated to serve as co-chair, as appointed by the President Pro Tempore,
3. A representative from the Office of the Governor, appointed by the Governor,
4. A representative from the Office of the Attorney General, appointed by the Attorney General,
5. A representative from the Department of Health and Human Services, appointed by the Secretary of that Department,
6. A representative from the Office of the Controller General, appointed by the Controller General,
7. A representative from the Department of Elections, appointed by the State Election Commissioner,
8. A representative from the Shelter Providers Coalition of Delaware, appointed by the leadership of that organization,
9. A representative from the Homeless Planning Council of Delaware, appointed by the leadership of that organization,
10. A representative from the Delaware Apartment Association, appointed by the leadership of that organization, and
11. A representative from the Delaware Housing Coalition, appointed by the leadership of that organization.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair of the Task Force shall be responsible for guiding the administration of the Task Force, which includes:
1. Setting a date, time and place for the initial organizational meeting;
2. Supervising the preparation and distribution of meeting notices, agendas, minutes, correspondences, and reports of Task Force;
3. Sending, after the first meeting to the Task Force, a list of the members of the Task Force and the person who appointed them to the Director of Research of Legislative Council; and
4. Ensuring that the final report of the Task Force is submitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, with a copy to the Governor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Delaware State Housing Authority shall be responsible for providing reasonable and necessary support staff and materials for the Task Force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair or his or her designee may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses in connection with any hearing or investigation conducted by the Task Force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall begin meeting within 60 days of the passage of this Resolution, meet at least once every month unless otherwise instructed by the chair, and issue its final report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate no later than January 15, 2015.
SYNOPSIS
|
This Resolution creates a task force to make findings and policy recommendations examining homelessness in Delaware, including its causes and impacts, and proposing methods to permanently reduce and eliminate homelessness and promote the fair treatment of the homeless.The task force includes various stakeholders.The task force shall report to the General Assembly by January 15, 2015. |
