Bill Text: HI SB897 | 2011 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Homelessness; Interagency Council; Department of Human Services
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-03-21 - (H) Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Carroll, McKelvey, Saiki, Wooley excused (4). [SB897 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2011-SB897-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
897 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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. In 2010, a Homeless Service Utilization Report prepared by the center on the family at the University of Hawaii and the homeless programs office of the department of human services revealed that statewide, there are 13,886 people who experience homelessness. This represents an increase of three per cent from just a year ago. The report also revealed that six hundred forty-six persons deemed themselves at risk of homelessness or precariously housed because they are three monthly paychecks away from homelessness.
The legislature finds that Hawaii's limited rental housing stock and the growing population have resulted in high rental housing costs. Without affordable rentals, homeless persons who are ready to transition from shelters to permanent housing have nowhere to go, which in turn leaves shelters unable to take in the growing numbers of new residents who become homeless. This results in a growing population of unsheltered homeless and a higher demand for homeless programs and services.
The ability of the State's homeless programs office to meet the needs of the growing homeless population has been limited by a consistent lack of resources over the years. The recent economic downturn has made a dire situation critical, due to budget cuts and the reductions-in-force of needed positions.
The purpose of this Act is to address the needs of the growing homeless population in Hawaii and to increase the inventory of affordable rental housing which in turn will enable homeless people to help themselves by achieving improved, permanent living situations.
SECTION 2. The Hawaii housing finance and development corporation, the homeless programs office of the department of human services, and the Hawaii Association of Realtors shall work together and conduct a survey to identify and inventory state-owned, state-managed, and other government and privately-owned or managed vacant housing units statewide that could be used as affordable rental housing under chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, including housing units that could be used as affordable rental housing if renovated or restored.
SECTION 3. The Hawaii housing finance and development corporation, the homeless programs office of the department of human services, and the Hawaii Association of Realtors shall submit one report annually to the governor and the legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, on the results of the survey conducted under section 2 of this Act, and include in the report an inventory list that identifies each vacant unit by legal owner, street location, and tax map key number; provided that if any act passed by the 2011 legislature, whether enacted before or after the effective date of this Act, establishes an interagency council on homelessness tasked with formulating and coordinating a unified plan to address homelessness in Hawaii, the report shall also be submitted annually to that council.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Homeless; Affordable Housing
Description:
Requires the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation, the homeless programs office of the department of human services, and the Hawaii Association of Realtors to identify state-owned, state-managed, and other government and privately-owned or managed vacant housing units that could be used as affordable rental housing. Report annually to the governor and legislature; provided that if any act passed by the 2011 legislature establishes an interagency council on homelessness, the report shall also be submitted annually to that council. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
