STAND. COM. REP. NO. 904

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 11

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Housing and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 11 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO ESTABLISH RESOURCE CENTERS ON THEIR CAMPUSES IN ORDER TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Education to:

     (1)  Encourage the public elementary schools to establish on‑campus resource centers that provide information on, and referral to, existing resources that can combat homelessness; and

     (2)  Foster the development of these resource centers as sources of information on the extent, nature, patterns, and circumstances of homelessness in their communities.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one state agency.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

Your Committees find that there are over 2,000 children who receive sheltered services statewide and 1,300 children who receive outreach homeless services.  There are still more undocumented homeless individuals that are not captured in data sets, and these individuals or family members may be experiencing eviction, or living with other friends or family.

Your Committees further find that this measure would assist in providing support for children who are homeless by gathering information, identifying trends, and serving as a catalyst to develop programs that produce healthy outcomes, educational success, and strengthen communities.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Housing and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 11 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Housing and Human Services,

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair