HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1494

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

 

 

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

 


SECTION  1.  The legislature has funded and created programs to service chronically homeless individuals.  However, government cannot force an individual who is homeless to stay in a shelter or receive such services.  As a result, there are hundreds of homeless individuals who decline help from government and choose instead to sleep unsheltered on the streets.

The purpose of this Act is to provide an incentive to bring chronically homeless individuals to shelters and off the streets.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§346-    Homeless incentive program.  (a)  The department of human services, in conjunction with the governor's coordinator on homelessness, shall establish a homeless incentive program to encourage chronically homeless individuals to get off the streets by using the services of shelters in the State.

(b)  A chronically homeless individual shall be paid $12 per twenty-four-hour period for each overnight stay by the individual in a shelter; provided that:

(1)  The shelter has enough space in compliance with health and safety standards to accommodate the individual; and

(2)  The individual is in compliance with the requirements and rules of the shelter.

(c)  The $12 payment to a qualified individual under subsection (b) shall not be contingent on any requirement other than as specified in this section.

(d)  The department of human services shall adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section.

(e)  As used in this section, "chronically homeless individual" means a homeless individual with a disability who:

(1)  Lives either in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter, or in an institutional care facility if the individual has been living in the facility for fewer than ninety days and had been living in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter immediately before entering the institutional care facility; and

(2)  Shall have been living as described in paragraph (1) continuously for at least twelve months, or on at least four separate occasions in the last three years, where the combined occasions total a length of time of at least twelve months.  Each period separating the occasions shall include at least seven nights of living in a situation other than a place not meant for human habitation, in an emergency shelter, or in a safe haven."

SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for implementation of the homeless incentive program established in this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.   SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2075.


 


 

Report Title:

Homeless Incentive Program; Chronically Homeless; Shelters; Department of Human Services

 

Description:

Requires the Department of Human Services (DHS), in conjunction with the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, to establish a Homeless Incentive Program to encourage chronically homeless individuals to get off the streets by using the services of shelters.  Requires DHS to adopt rules.  Appropriates funds.  (HB1494 HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.