GOVERNOR LINGLE TO CONVENE HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS MEETING
For Immediate Release: March 28, 2006
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle will host homeless advocates and service providers from around the state for a meeting to address the continuing problem of homelessness in Hawai`i.
The meeting will take place on Thursday, March 30, 10:00 a.m. to noon, at the Honolulu International Airport Interisland Conference Center, Conference Room 1, 7 th floor.
The Governor has met with homelessness advocates, human service providers, family outreach organizations, faith-based groups, business leaders and developers, and state, county and federal government officials over the past three years in order to implement an ongoing action plan to meet the state’s homelessness situation.
This important meeting will focus on further problem-solving that will include sharing current best practices on helping the homeless and identifying immediate solutions to address and meet current needs.
The meeting will also focus on solutions that will help single- and dual-parent families with children who are homeless, as well as homeless people with mental illness. Participants will address how to provide more outreach, assessment and counseling services; what additional public or private facilities are available to immediately accommodate homeless families and how quickly new facilities could be brought on-line; and what supportive services could and should be offered to help move families into permanent structures.
“Our Administration has been working closely with many of these organizations over the past three years to address the growing statewide problem of homelessness. This meeting is another step in the ongoing process to assess what more we should be doing as a community to help homeless families throughout our state,” said Governor Lingle.
In addition to developing statewide solutions, the discussions will focus on specific options that would be appropriate for each island. The participants will also be asked to provide input on proposals that are being considered by the Legislature, as well as to recommend immediate solutions for those without any permanent housing.
The Lingle-Aiona Administration has proposed $20 million in its FY07 budget, in addition to the current $6.5 million already appropriated for homelessness this coming year. If approved by the Legislature, $10 million would be used for immediate repair and maintenance of homeless shelters statewide.
Another $10 million would go toward supportive housing services such as substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, job training, transportation allowances, child care, first aid, food, clothing and hygiene supplies. These funds could also augment services to medically fragile homeless who are exiting emergency rooms, provide supportive housing services for discharged offenders, and provide a rental subsidy bridge for those awaiting Section 8 vouchers.
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For further information contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor-Communications
Phone: 586-7708
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: 586-0043
