Representative Anne Stevens

News and Opinions

Solutions for Oahu's Homelessness Problem
The city's recent practice of closing Ala Moana Park between the hours of 10pm and 4am has highlighted the tremendous homelessness problem facing the State. Rep. Stevens shares the stories of the many homeless persons she has recently met in the Ala Moana Park area and expresses her support for methods of helping to reduce the number of people living on the streets, such as proposals to allow establishment of mobile home parks, removing the prohibition that prevents families and couples from residing at the Kaleloa veteran's shelter, and helping agencies to provide a one-way plane ticket to homeless persons wishing to relocate to lower cost of living areas on the mainland. Click here to read Rep. Anne Steven's Hawaii Reporter article.

Commentary

Elder Care is Hawaii's Looming Crisis
Click here to read Rep. Anne Steven's Honolulu Advertiser commentary of the dilemma that many of us will face: how to care for our aging parents. Rep. Stevens recounts the personal challenges she faces in caring for a parent with Alzheimer's disease. Given the tremendous amount of time, financial resources and emotional strength typically required in caring for an elderly relative, many may find themselves unable to meet these demands.

"Entire families may be affected by the psychological, financial and social costs of providing a parent with long-term care. As their dependency increases, caregivers frequently must reduce their work hours, adjust or abandon career or personal goals, and may need to retire earlier than intended, compromising their own financial independence." "Our state government is particularly concerned about this impending long-term health crisis. . . . The purpose of HB3129 is to provide a tax credit to individual taxpayers and employers for premiums paid for long-term insurance contracts. Lawmakers need to support this bill so all of us can afford to care for the ones we love in their time of need."