STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2498

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2187

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2187, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR WEST HAWAII HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for construction of a facility that will provide housing and services for families that are successfully transitioning through the homeless continuum on the island of Hawaii.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development, the Hawai‘i County Council, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, the Hawaii Family Forum, the Hawaii Catholic Conference, the Community Alliance Partners, Chapter Charities Hawaii, and numerous faith-based, social services, healthcare, and education organizations and private businesses.

     Your Committee finds that there is a rapidly increasing homeless population on the island of Hawaii, which has created additional public health and safety issues within the county.  Existing homeless shelters on the island have not kept pace with the growing homeless population.  Currently, the Kawaihae shelter, consisting of twenty-four transitional units, is situated at a remote location, which creates transportation, employment, and child care challenges.  This facility is a transitional, portable shelter that is scheduled to close in June, 2009.

     This measure appropriates funds for the Kaloko Housing Program, which will provide for the construction of multi-family, cluster homes, as well as health and life skills training, employment training, and other necessary services for homeless families.  Your Committee determines that this funding is a positive step toward helping families in need to become self-sufficient.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2187, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair