Bill Text: HI SB2319 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Homeless; Housing; Substance Abuse; Mental Health; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-03-08 - (H) Referred to HSG, HUS/HLT, FIN, referral sheet 41 [SB2319 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2012-SB2319-Amended.html
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2240
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2319
S.D. 1
Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui
President of the Senate
Twenty-Sixth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2012
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2319 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HOMELESS,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Appropriate funds to the Homeless Programs Office of the Department of Human Services and the rental housing trust fund;
(2) Appropriate funds to the Department of Health for substance abuse treatment, mental health support services, and clean and sober housing services; and
(3) Appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services for a homeless prevention program, rental assistance program, and matching funds for shelter plus care grants.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Department of Health; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; the Hawai‘i Association of Realtors; the Hawaii Catholic Conference; the Hawaii Disability Rights Center; the Hawaii Island Community Development corporation; the Kaua‘i Community Alliance; National Alliance on Mental Illness; Partners in Care; and three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Your Committees find that homelessness is a complex issue that requires continuous resources and coordinated efforts at all levels. Providing funding to various homeless and housing programs will assist individuals facing or experiencing homelessness.
Your Committees note that funding homeless programs through the rental housing trust fund will cause a net drain on affordable housing resources in the State of Hawaii because these homeless programs will not replenish the fund. Therefore, your Committees urge the Committee on Ways and Means to consider other, more appropriate funding sources to fund programs providing services to the homeless and homeless shelters.
Your Committees further note that in transitional shelters, homeless families cannot afford market rent and are forced to turn to public housing as their only option. Funding for a rental assistance program, also known as a shallow rent subsidies program, would provide a new and critical option to expedite the transition of homeless families into permanent housing.
Your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of:
(A) $200,000 to assist homeless and at-risk homeless individuals and families with housing placement, health, education, employment, and other support services that is to be expended by the Department of Human Services;
(B) $15,000,000 for the rental housing trust fund that is to be expended by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation;
(C) $2,990,300 for substance abuse treatment and mental health support services for individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless that is to be expended by the Department of Health;
(D) $3,831,300 for clean and sober housing support services that is to be expended by the Department of Health;
(E) $2,000,000 for a homeless prevention program, for short-term assistance to prevent homelessness and obtain or retain permanent housing that is to be expended by the Department of Human Services;
(F) $1,500,000 for a rental assistance program, also known as a shallow subsidy program, that is to be expended by the Department of Human Services; and
(G) $200,000 to provide matching funds for shelter plus care grants that is to be expended by the Department of Human Services; and
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to ensure further discussion.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2319, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2319, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Health,
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____________________________ JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair |
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____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair |
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