A: As the problem of homelessness in our state is one of geographically and socioeconomically disparate populations, the state government should serve as a central clearinghouse for a policy of decentralized solutions. Regionally specific approaches should be adopted in conjunction with the current individual needs-assessment approach.
In short, we need to engage, empower, and educate. We need to engage the community by assembling regional teams on each island to include a combination of nonprofits, county and state officials, law enforcement, community organizations, and the homeless themselves. We need to empower the homeless population to better their current situation by evaluating the unique needs of individuals. We need to educate those who are recently housed to prevent them from returning to be homeless.
A: To increase affordable housing for the middle class, we must first must decrease the cost of living in order for those receiving a median income or below to not only survive, but thrive here. Every individual or family deserves the opportunity to have a fighting chance to purchase a home of their own instead of sinking their hard-earned income into sky-high rental bills each month if they choose. I will prioritize decreasing taxes so that individuals and families can utilize their income more effectively to improve their quality of life. I will increase support for local developers and local jobs so that more dollars can stay here and stimulate our economic growth and sustainability. To increase our supply, I will work toward reducing the burdensome permit waiting period for developers, which will allow building to occur more quickly.
A: Yes. I support Ohana Zones as long as these zones have a leader, relationships of trust, strict guidelines, rehabilitation and transition programs, and community support. Without these requirements, any public funding towards homeless initiatives should be focused on proven and effective solutions.
"Having healthy, nutritious food is a basic necessity for everyone, but access to that food may not be so basic," said Senator Schatz. "More than 90,000 Hawai'i families rely on help from the government each month to put food on their tables. We all need to work together to be sure families in Hawai'i have nutritious food."
The full Scorecard for all members of the 113th Congress can be viewed at www.foodpolicyaction.org. FPA was created in 2012 to turn shared values about sustainable food and farming into national priorities.
The National Food Policy Scorecard is published to educate the public on food policy issues and provides objective information about the most important food policy votes before Congress. [Press release from the office of the senator].
A: We must build homes that Hawaii's working families can afford--not luxury condominiums for out-of-state speculators. With average new home prices approaching $700,000, there needs to be leadership to increase the supply of housing at all price points while protecting Hawaii's natural beauty.
The construction of the Honolulu rail system provides the opportunity for Transit Oriented Development incorporating housing along its 21-mile route.
We should reduce the cost of food by increasing local food production. Currently, we import $3 billion in food. Yet over the past four years we've lost more than 2,100 acres of prime agricultural land without a plan for replacing it.
ABERCROMBIE: After years of neglect, our administration has worked hard to put the state back on the right track. While we have substantial obligations that will take many years to fully address, I am confident now that we are finally tackling the issue rather than kicking the can down the road. The Employer-Union Trust Fund (EUTF) has never been prefunded until my administration came into office.
IGE: Multiple causes of homelessness require multiple solutions. We need to increase the supply of low-cost rental housing for families at risk by increasing funds to the Rental Housing Trust Fund--which the Legislature did this session, support the Housing First initiative to provide emergency housing, and maintain support for our State homeless shelters and veterans outreach program.
A: I think it's just humanity as a whole. My faith is such that it is part of our ministry to help those in need, and homeless people are those that are in need. The [category of the homeless] that frustrates me are the ones that are doing it because they want to do it, the ones that choose to be homeless, but they're the ones that choose not to follow rules. They choose to have the independence. "Government get out of my way, leave me alone."
Q: That's what they call the chronic homeless?
A: Yeah. I guess that's what they call them in the social realm. But, they are just people that just don't want to follow rules. That's the most frustrating, because what do you do with them? They are basically, I guess, cheating the rest of society. They are living off of land that isn't theirs. They're not working. They're not being productive.
Create an Office of Emergency Housing to serve as a "one stop shop" to eliminate bureaucratic red tape and provide faster services and approvals.
KERNS: Cut taxes first, help the business community first. The Hawaii small business is the engine of the Hawaii economy, let them keep their money so they can hire more people, including the homeless.
IGE: Multiple causes of homelessness require multiple solutions: increase the supply of low-cost rental housing for families at risk by increasing funds to the Rental Housing Trust Fund; support the Housing First initiative for emergency housing; and support our State homeless shelters.
ABERCROMBIE: Our administration recognized that if we're going to make progress on homelessness, we'd have to work collaboratively. That's why we established the first-ever statewide homeless coordinator. Just this year, we enacted two laws that will keep sidewalks open and clean, the first step to taking our streets back. Together with the City of Honolulu, we are also working to advance the Housing First program. This program has been adopted in areas across the country with great success. It focuses on getting homeless into housing units as a first step so they can receive the necessary services and care they need to get off the streets for good.
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| 2016 Presidential contenders on Welfare & Poverty: | |||
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Republicans:
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX) Carly Fiorina(CA) Gov.John Kasich(OH) Sen.Marco Rubio(FL) Donald Trump(NY) |
Democrats:
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY) Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT) 2016 Third Party Candidates: Roseanne Barr(PF-HI) Robert Steele(L-NY) Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA) | ||
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