THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

67

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the governor's coordinator on homelessness to conduct a study on the cost of programs and services necessary to end chronic homelessness by 2030.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, homelessness is a persistent public policy and humanitarian concern for Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the 2022 Point-In-Time Count tallied a total of 5,973 people experiencing homelessness in the State, with the majority of the people counted living on Oahu at 3,951 individuals, followed by Hawaii County with 837 individuals, Maui County with 741 individuals, and Kauai County with 444 individuals; and

 

     WHEREAS, the 2022 Point-In-Time Count showed an eleven percent decrease in Oahu's total homeless population from 2020, but a slightly higher number of unsheltered individuals living on the streets; and

 

     WHEREAS, there was also a significant drop in the number of individuals counted in shelters on Oahu in 2022 as compared to 2020, with 1,596 individuals counted in shelters in 2022 and 2,102 individuals counted in shelters in 2020; and

 

     WHEREAS, the decline in the number of individuals counted in shelters may be attributable to a decrease in statewide bed capacity caused by shelter closures and COVID-19 restrictions; and

 

     WHEREAS, statistics show that while Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations make up approximately ten percent of the total population on Oahu, they represent more than thirty-five percent of those experiencing homelessness; and

 

     WHEREAS, the current Governor has vowed to prioritize efforts to cut homelessness in half and eliminate chronic homelessness by 2030; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to conduct a study on the cost of programs and services necessary to end chronic homelessness by 2030; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor's Coordinator on Homeless is requested to consider in the study the cost of shelter space, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, housing assistance, stabilization facilities, substance abuse treatment, health care, mental health services, outreach programming, and other social services necessary to end chronic homelessness; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to consult with other governmental and nongovernmental organizations to perform the study, including the Department of Human Services, The Institute for Human Services, Partners In Care, and Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness is requested to submit the results of the study on the cost of ending chronic homelessness by 2030, including any findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Director of Human Services, Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Executive Director of the Institute for Human Services, Executive Director of Partners In Care, and Executive Director of the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Chronic Homelessness; Governor's Coordinator On Homelessness; Study