Bill Text: HI SB471 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Homelessness.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-12 - Act 062, 06/07/2019 (Gov. Msg. No. 1163). [SB471 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2019-SB471-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
471 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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C.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that homelessness is one of the most pressing problems in Hawai‘i, which requires a robust, comprehensive, long-term solution to address Hawai‘i's affordable housing and homelessness crisis.
Over the last fifty years in Hawai‘i, the number of cost-burdened renters, those paying more than thirty per cent of their income for rent, went from less than a quarter of the population to over half. High housing costs have driven more and more Hawai‘i residents into homelessness. Hawai‘i has the highest homelessness rate in the nation.
The legislature further finds that by making smart investments in homelessness and housing, using data-driven practices, and improving coordination, Hawai‘i has gradually begun to turn the tide in the homelessness crisis. In 2017, Hawai‘i's homelessness rate went down for the first time in years, a trend that continued in 2018. During the regular session of 2018, the legislature made unprecedented levels of investment in low-income housing and homelessness, appropriating $200,000,000 for the rental housing revolving fund, $30,000,000 for ohana zones, and $13,500,000 for proven-effective and promising homelessness programs.
To turn back the fifty years of growth in Hawai‘i's housing and homelessness crisis, investments of this scale must be made consistently in the coming years. Hawai‘i must prioritize programs that are the most cost-effective and target the most vulnerable populations, such as outreach, rapid re-housing, housing first, and family assessment centers.
The purpose of this Act is to fund core homelessness services.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $10,800,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the department of human services to fund and administer core homelessness services; provided that the sums appropriated shall be expended as follows:
(1) $3,750,000 for the housing first program;
(2) $3,750,000 for the rapid re-housing program;
(3) $1,550,000 for the family assessment centers; and
(4) $1,750,000 for homeless outreach and civil legal services.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Department of Human Services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. (a) There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 for the department of human services to fund stored property and debris removal services.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
(b) The department of human services may contract the services of another entity to perform any related services that may be required pursuant to this section. Any contract for services executed pursuant to this section shall be exempt from chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 for the state rent supplement program established pursuant to section 356D-151, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.
Report Title:
Homelessness; Housing; Department of Human Services; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Appropriations
Description:
Appropriates funds for core homelessness services, including the outreach program, rapid re-housing program, housing first program, family assessment centers, stored property and debris removal services, and the state rent supplemental program. (CD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
