2006-09-07 TPD - Laserfiche WebLink

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meetings, whatever. If the proposed change is to save entities from processing extra paperwork, I think it is foolhardy and tantamount to shooting oneself in the foot.Not only would the County be giving up all control of the Department of Health, it will be controlled from an entirely different county and would apply to not only current but also to all future programs licensed by the Department of Health. On the surface, the proposed change gives the impression that currently these programs can only operate with a maximum of five in a family. As I understand it, this is not true. Currently, occupancy is determined by the number of rooms and square footage in a facility. A special permit with the proper paperwork may be requested to increase the number in a program’s family. To say all the other islands have implemented the proposed change reminds me of lemmings running off a cliff. The Big Island is not like all the other islands. Let us keep it that way. There is no sense in adding on to something that already works just fine. Leave well enough all alone. I strongly suggest the Commission not approve the proposed change to the definition of a “family.” That’s it. ALAMEDA:Thank you, Mr. Carter. Any questions? Seeing none, you may be seated. Ms. Bernie Miranda? MIRANDA:Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair and Members of the Planning Commission. I don’t represent the entire Department of Health but I do represent the Adult Mental Health Division; and I am in support of this amendment to the definition of “family.” The Adult Mental Health Division has been providing housing for people with disabilities close to 20 years. This is not something new. We have established group homes throughout all of the counties in innovated communities; and I would like to say we do have a house in Hawai`i Kai and we do have a house in Mililani. And the purpose of that is because our folks have to return to the communities that they come from; and that was the whole idea of the development of the housing program, so that our children, so that our families could come back home. You know, the people that we serve are probably the poorest people because they get Federal subsidies. These subsidies do not allow for them to go out and rent houses in this competitive housing market. So the end result is these people end up homeless. These people homeless cost the State and the counties tremendous amounts of money. These are the people that end up in the emergency rooms, these are the people that end up in jails, these are the people that end up on the streets causing havoc to the neighbors. So this is not good. We contract, we have over 1,700 units throughout the State of Hawai`i in, as I said, in integrated neighborhoods. We contract with housing providers throughout the State. We have housing developers as part of our housing providers.Our housing developers have gone out and brought into the State of Hawai`i HUD subsidies totaling over $30 million. That is a lot of money for subsidized housing. You and I both know that the State cannot provide subsidized housing. Look at the affordability of housing, look at the housing market now. This is a great opportunity to have housing developers go out and solicit funds. Right now our housing developers aren’t subsidizing with HUD funds. They’re able to purchase homes. They’re purchasing larger homes. Some of our rooms are vacant because of the zoning on the island of Hawai`i. Having up to eight people in a home, we’re not stockpiling. We’re very cognizant of placing our th folks in healthy, safe and decent environments. Our housing program ranks 12 in the nation. That’s pretty remarkable. Our homes are certified, the homes that have treatment on site are required to be licensed. Those are very stringent requirements of the County and of the State. EXHIBIT D 12