HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0589.025 2020-2022 P/Couna
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From: Gail Noeau
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2022 4:57 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Bill 111
I
Aloha my name is Gail Noeau
I am writing on behalf of, voters/volunteers in my community, in support of Bill 111, which would appropriate at
least 75%of property tax revenue that is currently collected from second homes valued over $2 Million.
These organizations help members of our community avoid and overcome, homelessness through programs like
Vibrant Hawaii, Puna Neighborhood Place & Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island, which are an integral part of the
wraparound services offered, by more partners
in our community. These programs are proven successful, but only when they are adequately funded. Last year we
served over 100 families on a budget of$10,000. But our data shows at least 4 times as many people on Hawaii Island
need this service. If you increased our funding by 75%we would likely be able to serve 3 maybe 4 times as many
people, open a new center and expand services.
Homelessness is a traumatic experience, whether someone is on the street for one night or ten years, the trauma they 1
experience can become a complex and vicious cycle of health issues including but not limited to, mental
health/substance abuse, low wages, inability to become employed, violence, abuse, arrest, incarceration, and broken
support systems. If these issues are not adequately addressed and if the person is not able to heal they are unlikely to
attain permanent housing.
With Federal COVID money drying up later this year, & State funding that is unreliable & inadequate, we need our
County to step up and make sure that programs like ours are well resourced, so that we can continue to move the
needle on homelessness.
Please join me in Support of Bill 111 so we can make housing and wraparound services accessible to our island's most
vulnerable residents.
Mahalo*
�Asa 7s P
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