Name: State Homeless Coordinator and Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness (HICH).

Description and Mission

Created by Act 105 of the 2012 Hawaii State Legislature and amended by Act 76 of the 2013 Hawaii State Legislature. Composed of key cabinet directors, House and Senate, county, community, business, and faith based representatives. Chaired by the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness, Colin Kippen, who is being assisted by Brian Matson. Mission is to prevent and end homelessness in Hawaii. Responsible for developing and coordinating all data and resources and formulating policies and plans based on evidence-based best practices across all systems, governments, and communities to end homelessness in Hawaii.

FY 2014 Highlights.

·  Updated and implemented a plan created in 2012 to end homelessness in four parts, the most crucial of which was to “retool the homeless crisis response system” by creating, adopting, and implementing “Hale O Malama” and a “Housing First” approach.

·  Developed and implemented “Hale O Malama”, a coordinated assessment and housing placement system, to identify the needs of those who are homeless, to identify the resources available and required to end their homelessness, and to triage these homeless individuals into the appropriate levels of housing and support services. Began with those who are chronically homeless, medically vulnerable, and who would qualify for Permanent Supportive Housing resources presently available in our community from Federal, State, and County resources.

·  Adopted a “Housing First” approach consistent with national evidence based practices and received the support of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Veteran’s Administration (VA), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These agencies provided technical support over the last year and SAMHSA provided grant funding in the amount of approximately $3 million to provide the case management and capacity building to provide the wrap around services for those homeless individuals and families who have substance abuse and substance abuse and mental health issues and who qualify for Permanent Supportive Housing such as the State’s Housing First program.

Immediate Concerns.

·  Lack of a budget for expenses to carry out the duties of the State Homeless Coordinator and the HICH to end homelessness. (2 years running.)

·  Bringing “Hale O Malama” to scale across the state.

·  Bringing the “Housing First” approach to scale across the state.

HICH BUDGET / Amount / Subtotal / Total
Invoice on hand to reimburse Kaloa Robinson for airfare to attend HICH meetings July, Sep., Nov. 2014 / $637.00 / $637.00 / $637.00
BUDGET FOR 2/5/15-6/30/15
Funds to reimburse Neighbor Island members of HICH for Airfare to attend statutorily mandated HICH meetings / $1,720.00
Funds to pay for Airfare for Colin and Brian to travel to Neighbor Islands to bring work to scale / $2,580.00
Funds to pay for Prkg. & Per Diem for Colin and Brian to travel to Neighbor Islands to bring work to scale / $420.00
Funds to pay for Airfare for Colin and Brian to travel to Mainland to attend training and meet with peers / $3,000.00
Funds to pay for Mainland Accommodation for Colin and Brian to attend training and meet with peers / $3,000.00
Funds to pay for Mainland Per Diem for Colin and Brian to attend training and meet peers / $680.00
Office Supplies / $1,000.00 / $12,400.00 / $13,037.00
BUDGET FOR 7/1/15-6/30/16
Funds to reimburse Neighbor Island members of HICH for Airfare to attend statutorily mandated HICH meetings / $3,440.00
Funds to pay for Airfare for Colin and Brian to travel to Neighbor Islands to bring work to scale / $2,580.00
Funds to pay for Prkg. & Per Diem for Colin and Brian to travel to Neighbor Islands to bring work to scale / $420.00
Funds to pay for Airfare for Colin and Brian to travel to Mainland to attend training and meet with peers / $6,000.00
Funds to pay for Mainland Accommodation for Colin and Brian to attend training and meet with peers / $6,000.00
Funds to pay for Mainland Per Diem for Colin and Brian to attend training and meet peers / $1,360.00
Funds to Pay Registration Fees for Trainings & Conferences / $2,800.00
Office Supplies / $2,000.00 / $24,600.00 / $37,637.00