HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0589.033 2020-2022 P/co no►C
'bill III
Comm,531
From: Rachel Solemsaas
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2022 10:41 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony Bill 111
Aloha kakou,
My name is Rachel Solemsaas, a resident of the County and I live in upper Kaumana. With my commitment to a
thriving and vibrant Hawaii County, I am writing in support of Bill 111, which would appropriate at least 75%of the
property tax revenue that is currently collected from second homes valued over $2 million.
Such an investment would be an integral part of our current efforts to provide wraparound services offered by partners
in our community. These programs are proven successful, but only when they are adequately funded! There are many
more people on Hawaii Island who need this service.
Homelessness is a traumatic experience. Whether someone is on the street for one night or for ten years, the trauma
they experience can become a complex and vicious cycle of health issues (which include 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 in September, and state funding that is unreliable and 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 supporting Bill 111, so that we can make housing and wraparound services accessible to our island's
most vulnerable residents.
Mahalo,
CD
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Rachel Solemsaas
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