HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0589.024 2020-2022 r
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DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR
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EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS
HONOLULU COUWYCLERK
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AT TESTIMONY LRECEIVED
February 23, 2022l
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TO: The Honorable Councilmember Maile David, Chair
Hawaii County Council
FROM: Scott Morishige, MSW, Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness
SUBJECT: Bill 111—Amending Chapter 19,Article 11,Section 19-90,of the Hawaii
County Code 1983(2016 Edition,as amended),Relating to Real Property
Taxes.
Hearing: Thursday, February 3, 2022,9:00 a.m.
VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE
POSITION: The Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness supports this measure.
PURPOSE: The purpose of the bill is to appropriate at least 75%of the property tax
revenue that is collected by the County from residential tier two properties to homeless
programs. This revenue allocation would sunset on June 30, 2027.
From July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, homeless service providers on Hawaii Island served
1,515 unique individuals. Of those who exited the homeless services system during this time,
61%, or 478 individuals, moved into permanent housing. The services that Hawaii Island
providers administer assist individuals and families not only in the short-term to transition out
of homelessness, but also in the long-term to remain stably housed. The housing retention rate
for those served in the County is 88%,which reflects the value and effectiveness of the Island's
services, including outreach, emergency and transitional shelters, rental housing subsidies,
homeless prevention, and other supportive services.
Focusing resources on evidence-based strategies to reduce homelessness not only
assists our most vulnerable community members to transition into housing and stabilize, but it
also ultimately saves money for many already stretched resources, including governmental
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funding and hospital costs. For example, an evaluation of a local Permanent Supportive Housing
program (also known as Housing First) that serves chronically homeless households
demonstrated that there was an estimated healthcare cost savings of over$6,000 per client
each month because of participation in the program.
Fallowing the 2009 recession,the entire State saw increases for over seven years in the
number of people experiencing homelessness. According to data from the horneless Point in
Time `PIT Count, in 2016, 7,921 individuals statewide were experiencing homelessness, with
1,395 of those individuals living in Hawaii County. The services administered by local provider
organizations have been vital in decreasing these numbers. In 2020, results from the PIT Count
showed that 6,458 individuals statewide were experiencing homelessness, with 797 of those
individuals living in Hawaii County.
By looking at the trending increases in homelessness in the years following recessions,
we can prepare our islands for the coming fallout from the recession that was brought on by
the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to see the effects of this recession over the next few
years.
Having an additional County revenue stream for homeless services would help to fill
service gaps and may be able to leverage funding at the State and Federal levels as well,
ultimately using limited governmental funds more efficiently and effectively. Bill 111 would
help to mitigate adverse impacts of the pandemic recession in the years to come and would
help make huge strides forward toward ending homelessness in Hawaii County by supporting
evidence-based programs.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this measure.
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