Report Title:

Homeless; Funding; Kikala-Keokea; Hale Kokua

 

Description:

Appropriates $1 for FY 2001-02 and 2002-03, for homeless assistance. Appropriates $1 for FY 2001-02 for the Kikala-Keokea subdivision on the island of Hawaii. Repeals the "Hale Kokua Program". (HB73 HD2)

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

73

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO HOUSING.

 

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

PART I.

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State must do more to help Hawaii's homeless become more stable by providing assistance with health, housing, and social issues so that they may be able to obtain and retain permanent housing and maintain economic independence and self-sufficiency in the long-term. Programs designed to assist homeless persons are more effective and efficient when a continuum of programs is provided.

However, the safety net established to provide relief and recovery for Hawaii's homeless is eroding due to several funding issues.

Homeless shelters, the last safety net for families plunged into homelessness, may soon be unavailable to the homeless that they are meant to help. Seventy per cent of homeless families pay their program fees at homeless shelters with welfare benefits. The loss of those benefits when the five-year welfare clock runs out on most of these families will result in eviction for nonpayment of program fees, because homeless shelters cannot afford to operate without the combination of state homeless stipend and tenant program fees.

The demand for shelter services has increased over the years, while the state homeless programs' budget has sustained numerous across-the-board spending cuts. The state homeless programs' budget is $1,300,000 less than it was in 1996. The grant program which is the primary strategy for homeless prevention is barely alive with a $61,000 annual appropriation. Further, without additional funding to adequately support the efforts of the homeless providers, the outreach agencies and shelters will be forced to limit the numbers they serve or close their operations.

All of the shelters maintain a waiting list for services. There is little comfort to a homeless family or individual to be added to a wait list when immediate relief is needed. Future plans for shelter development to meet the growing needs of the homeless include:

March 2001 Seventy-two units for homeless mentally ill at Barbers Point;

March 2001 Thirty-six units for homeless families at Barbers Point;

November 2001 Thirty plus units for homeless singles and families in Maui; and

2002 Thirty units for homeless families at Waianae, Hawaii.

However, funding for the operation of these additional shelter units has not been adequately addressed.

The purpose of this part is to:

(1) Restore adequate funding levels to the state homeless programs;

(2) Maintain adequate funding to support much needed additional shelter inventory; and

(3) Increase funding levels for homeless assistance, pursuant to chapter 201G, part IV, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by providing a deeper subsidy for those families losing their welfare benefits.

Under the latter proposal, shelters participating in the state stipend program will be able to provide shelter at little or no cost to families that have lost their welfare benefits; provided that the adults in the family commit to eighty per cent or better participation level in self-sufficiency programs and input/output agreements.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002 and the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003 to accomplish the purposes of this part.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the housing and community development corporation of Hawaii for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 4. Volcanic eruptions claimed the town of Kalapana and destroyed one of the last Hawaiian settlements on the island of Hawaii. The legislature recognized the need to find a place for the displaced residents of this community to allow them to maintain their common heritage and implemented legislation to award them long-term leases in the Kikala-Keokea homestead area.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate $1 for a housing loan revolving program and other expenses related to home construction for the Kikala-Keokea leaseholders who have been denied loans from traditional financial institutions, to be administered by the housing and community development corporation and the Hawaii county economic opportunity council.

SECTION 5. There is hereby established in the state treasury a Kikala-Keokea housing revolving fund to provide low interest loans for home construction for Kikala-Keokea leaseholders who have been denied loans from traditional financial institutions. The revolving fund shall be administered by the housing and community development corporation of Hawaii.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002 for costs related to providing housing or self-help housing on Kikala-Keokea leasehold property as follows:

Kikala-Keokea housing revolving fund: $0

Grading: 0

Planning and design: 0

Construction supervisor: 0

Project manager: 0

Administrative assistant: 0

Clerk: 0

Equipment rental/lease: 0

Vehicle maintenance and repair: 0

Utilities and office expenses: 0

Travel: 0

Workshop training: 0

SECTION 7. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the housing and community development corporation for the purposes of this part, and shall include transferring $1 from the appropriation to the Kikala-Keokea housing revolving fund.

PART III

SECTION 8. The purpose of this part is to repeal the homeless assistance program known as the "Hale Kokua Program".

SECTION 9. Subpart B of part IV of chapter 201G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.