BRIEFING ON HOMELESSNESS THIS FRIDAY

CONTACT: Dennis Arakaki

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BRIEFING ON HOMELESSNESS THIS FRIDAY

 

 

The House Committee on Human Services and Housing will hold a formal briefing on the 1999 Homeless Needs Assessment Study this Friday, March 3, in Conference Room 329 in the State Capitol. The briefing is scheduled to begin at 8:30 am and will also be broadcast by 'Olelo Community Television.

"Homelessness is one of the great tragedies of Hawaii," Committee Chair Dennis Arakaki said. "It is often the most vulnerable of our community -- the poor, the children, those suffering from mental illness -- who are first affected," he continued. "But after ten years of a deteriorating economy, too many families worry about keeping a roof over their heads; and the problems of homelessness become even more ominous as the 5-year limit on welfare benefits looms closer."

"Many of us also worry that we're getting callous and turning our eyes away from the homeless can lead to turning our backs on our community," Arakaki added.

The briefing will include an overview of findings by Market Trends Pacific, who conducted the study. Governmental efforts to address homelessness will be reported on by the State Housing and Community Development Corporation, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Community Services, and the Department of Hawaiian Lands. Representatives from community agencies working to provide shelter and programs for the homeless will also be featured.

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