HB2,SD1,CD1 - Help for the Homeless.doc

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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HAWAII SILVER LEGISLATURE, 2005

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

C.D. 1

H.B. NO.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO REPAIR EMPTY STATE HOUSING UNITS AND

TO PROVIDE RENTAL SUBSIDIES FOR LOW-INCOME UNITS.

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

SECTION 1. The Silver Legislature finds that the lack of

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affordable housing is a primary cause of homelessness.

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Currently, there are estimated to be over 6,000 homeless in

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Hawaii on any given day, and over 14,600 last year who were

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homeless at one point or another. In the past 4 years, the

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number of homeless in Hawaii has nearly doubled.

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Families are losing their homes at unprecedented rates, and

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are being forced to live a life of poverty. Many have poor

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access to medical services, difficulty finding work, and paying

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for food and child care. As a result, children do not receive

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the proper care, immunizations, and nourishment needed to

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sustain a healthy quality of life. Additionally, their

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physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and behavioral

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developments are all negatively affected. Many homeless

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children who end up in the foster care system, or who experience

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long-term homelessness, often end up being homeless themselves

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when they reach adulthood.

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HB2,SD1,CD1 - Help for the Homeless.doc

Many homeless suffer extreme hardships such as a loss of

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self-esteem, behavioral problems, a lack of education, becoming

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victims of violence and rape, becoming institutionalized,

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deteriorating in both mental and physical health, and some

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cases, ending up in death. Twenty five to thirty percent suffer

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from chronic mental illness, thirty five to forty percent suffer

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from alcohol and drug abuse, and a growing percentage become HIV

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positive from the hard life they live on the streets.

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There are about 12,000 individuals each year who seek help

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from the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii

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(HCDCH), many of whom are denied due to lack of HCDCH resources.

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With over 9,000 people on the waiting list for housing, HCDCH

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has stopped accepting applicants. The average waiting period is

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estimated to be anywhere from 2-7 years; in the mean time, many

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people are suffering in homelessness.

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The Silver Legislature believes that to prevent many of the

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problems associated with homelessness, the State must make more

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housing available to low-income families.

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SECTION 2. There is appropriated out the General Revenues

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$8 million to HCDCH to:

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(1)

Repair empty state housing units; and

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(2)

Provide rental subsidies for low-income individuals.

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SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.

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