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

Hawaii House Resolution 123

Bill Title: Resolving To End Homelessness On Maui.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced) 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-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	123
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
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 Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiians 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 Hawaiʻi, Regular Session of 2024, that significantly increased efforts must be made to house people in Hawaiʻi; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we request of 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 we request of 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 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.