HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0589.039 2020-2022 bill I!If
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LGF Consulting Hawaii
808.854.9629
CONSU TING
Igfconsultinghawaii@gmail.com
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Aloha,
My name is Lori Ferrin, and I am writing on behalf of LGF Consulting Hawaii 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.
I
My agency helps members of our community avoid and overcome homelessness, through programs like Job
Readiness Training,Career Navigation Facilitator Training,and Work Internship Programs,which are an integral part
of the wraparound services offered by partners in our community. I have worked with youth, families, and single
adults living unhoused,and one consistent thing I see is that when there are resources and support available people
in crisis can have hope that their circumstances can get better, and that their community cares and wants them to
succeed. Homelessness causes trauma. For an individual facing homelessness the initial realization that they do not
have the resources to stay housed, especially if they have children,the shock and pain of having to ask for help can
be debilitating. Readily available services, staff, and a safe welcoming place to go can mitigate the trauma.Trauma
compounds when there are not enough resources or staff to effectively move a family into safety and stability and
then the trauma becomes imbedded and takes much longer for a family to stabilize and then return productivity.
In my work I have watched individuals move from being emotionally shut down, defensive, and unable to take any
risk by moving forward, to engaged, open and having hope for their future because they felt the care of
organizations and the staff.
Permanent, affordable housing, support services and a caring community move people into stability and hope.
Ongoing, consistent support decrease the risk of recidivism and ultimately is less costly. Providing people with
caring, effective programs that address financial, emotional, and physical issues, moves people out of
homelessness.
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,
Lori Ferrin
Owner, LGF Consulting Hawaii
MA
Comm. N .
Ref, To. UUMI
Ref. Date a 92022