HI HB699

Appropriates $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2017-2018 and $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2018-2019 to the Department of Human Services for the housing first program.

Expands the housing first program beyond Oahu to serve chronically homeless individuals on neighboring islands who are currently underserved.

Housing first program provides immediate housing placement without preconditions of treatment acceptance or compliance, combined with robust support services based on assertive engagement rather than coercion.

Program emphasizes harm-reduction approaches to addiction, grants chronically homeless individuals priority enrollment, and provides participants with legal leases and tenant protections.

Takes effect on July 1, 2017.