THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2893
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  In 2015, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development issued its definition of "chronically homeless."  The purpose of this Act is to amend Hawaii's definition of "chronically homeless" to better align with the federal definition and to reduce confusion amongst providers, communities, and private partners.

     SECTION 2.  Section 346-378, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:

     "(e)  As used in this section, "chronically homeless individual" means [a homeless individual who has an addiction or a mental illness, or both.]:

     (1)  A homeless individual with a mental illness, addiction, or physical disability who:

          (A)  Lives in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter; and

          (B)  Has been homeless and living as described in subparagraph (A) continuously for at least twelve months or on at least four separate occasions in the last three years, as long as the combined occasions equal at least twelve months and each break in homelessness separating the occasions included at least seven consecutive nights of not living as described in subparagraph (A).  Stays in institutional care facilities for fewer than ninety days shall not constitute as a break in homelessness, but rather such stays are included in the twelve-month total, as long as the individual was living or residing in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or an emergency shelter immediately before entering the institutional care facility;

     (2)  An individual who has been residing in an institutional care facility, including a jail, substance abuse or mental health treatment facility, hospital, or other similar facility, for fewer than ninety days and met all of the criteria in paragraph (1) before entering that facility; or

     (3)  A family with an adult head of household (or if there is no adult in the family, a minor head of household) who meets all of the criteria in paragraph (1) or (2), including a family whose composition has fluctuated while the head of household has been homeless."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

 

Report Title:

Chronically Homeless; Definition

 

Description:

Amends the definition of "chronically homeless" to provide clarity and improve the delivery and development of homeless services.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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