Bill Text: HI HR123 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Resolving To End Homelessness On Maui.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-03-28 - Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Gates, Ichiyama, Kila, Lowen, Tam excused (5). [HR123 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HR123-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	123
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Resolving to end homelessness on maui

 

 

 

WHEREAS, Hawaiʻi has one of the most severe homelessness epidemics In the U.S.A.; and

 

     WHEREAS, the 2023 point in time count determined there  were 6223 homeless in the state of Hawaii and 704 on Maui before the August 8, 2023 wildfires; and 

 

WHEREAS, per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, Hawai’i had the highest percentage of people experiencing chronic homelessness; and

 

WHEREAS, Hawai’i also had the third highest rate of homeless youth staying in unsheltered locations; and

 

     WHEREAS,recent Maui Fires have increased homelessness ; and

 

     WHEREAS, homelessness can have many causes including family violence, limited housing opportunities, lack of adequate employment, substance addiction, mental/physical health conditions, trauma, lack of adequate employment and other factors; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaiʻi’s housing costs are extremely high and average incomes fail to meet criteria for rentals; and

 

WHEREAS, the price of housing in Hawaiʻi is a large factor in why the homeless population is growing; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is extremely difficult to find affordable housing in Hawaiʻi; and

 

     WHEREAS, native Hawaiʻians are particularly susceptible to homelessness; and

      

     WHEREAS, housing people reduces suffering; and

 

     WHEREAS, housing people reduces medical costs; and    

 

     WHEREAS, living on the streets frequently leads to an early death; now, therefore,

    

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that significantly increased efforts must be made to house people in Hawai’i; and

  

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we request the Governor and his Coordinator on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to secure a viable location on Maui and build at least 450 homes for the displaced victims of the Lahaina wildfires; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that request the Governor and his Coordinator on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to secure at least two different geographic locations on Maui to build a Kauhale for any displaced Lahaina wildfire victims as well as homeless prior to the August 8, 2023 wildfires and ensure outreach services to provide for mental health, crisis stabilization, along with any wraparound social services for all residents of the new housing units; and 

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Maui needs to house an estimated 800 homeless and the State will move forward with compassion and aloha to help these people by constructing new housing housing units on Maui; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State and the people of Hawai’i want to house the houseless, shelter those with no shelter, and find homes for all of the housing insecure; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to The Honorable Governor Joshua Green, the Honorable State Coordinator on Homelessness and Housing Solutions John Mizuno, The Speaker of the House of Representatives Scott Saiki, Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services Director Cathy Betts, Hawaiʻi Department of Health Director Kenneth Fink, County of Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, County of Maui Homelessness coordinator, County of Maui Council Chair Alice Lee, County of Maui Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura, County of Maui Presiding Officer Pro Tempore Tasha Kama, and County of Maui Councilmembers Tom Cook, Gabe Johnson, Tamara Paltin, Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Shane Sinenci, and Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins.

 

 

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Ending Homelessness