Hawaii Senate Bill SCR136

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/24
• Refer: 3/14/24

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Health To Establish A Housing Equity And Wellness Task Force.

Impact

If enacted, SCR136 would result in more substantial state-level attention and resources devoted to studying the intersection of housing and mental health issues. The bill points to the inadequacy of current laws that only require a 45-day notice for month-to-month tenancies without legal cause, leaving tenants vulnerable to sudden eviction. This legislative initiative aims to enhance tenant protections, ensuring that individuals living in precarious housing situations, particularly seniors, have better avenues to address their challenges and potentially prevent mental health crises linked to housing instability.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution 136 (SCR136) requests the establishment of a Housing Equity and Wellness Task Force by the Department of Health in Hawaii. This initiative aims to address the detrimental effects of housing insecurity on mental health, particularly focusing on vulnerable populations such as the elderly (kupuna) who are disproportionately affected by the current housing crisis. The resolution highlights alarming statistics regarding Hawaii's exorbitant cost of living, which significantly increases the risk of homelessness, particularly among middle-class and lower-income communities, including working-class tenants and the elderly.

Contention

Discussion around SCR136 is likely to engage various stakeholders, including health officials, housing advocates, and representatives from the elderly community. Potential points of contention could arise from differing views on the effectiveness of current tenant protections and the state’s role in intervening in housing matters. Advocates for change may argue that urgent actions are necessary to mitigate the current housing crisis and its adverse impact on mental health, whereas opponents might express concerns about how such a task force is managed, the feasibility of proposed legislative changes, and potential implications on property rights.