REPORT TITLE:
Housing for Mentally Ill


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriation for housing for persons with serious and persistent
mental illness.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           394
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO HOUSING.
 


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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there is currently an
 
 2 urgent social problem in the care of persons with serious and
 
 3 persistent mental illness (SPMI) who have multiple needs and
 
 4 lifestyles, with no single model of treatment appropriate for all
 
 5 of them.  One of the most immediate pressing needs of the SPMI
 
 6 population is adequate and appropriate housing, since many tend
 
 7 to be homeless with a typical background of revolving door
 
 8 hospitalizations, prison stays, and failed treatment attempts.
 
 9 The SPMI population can be described as the homeless mentally
 
10 ill, who society has cast aside to the government to care for.
 
11 The legislature further finds that it is incumbent upon
 
12 government as a humane and social duty to provide resources for
 
13 the care of the SPMI population.
 
14      The purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation for the
 
15 establishment of a range of supportive housing options for
 
16 persons with SPMI.
 
17      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
18 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so
 
19 much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, for
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           394
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 supportive housing options for persons with serious and
 
 2 persistent mental illness, including three levels of structure:
 
 3      (1)  The highest level being twenty-four-hour care with a
 
 4           high staff-to-patient ratio;
 
 5      (2)  The middle level being flexible, small living
 
 6           environments with onsite or nearby services; and
 
 7      (3)  The lowest level being independent individual or group
 
 8           living, including rent subsidies, with onsite or nearby
 
 9           services.
 
10      SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
11 department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
 
12      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.
 
13 
 
14                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________