A new law aims to get the chronically homeless into their own apartments. Gov. Linda Lingle let House Bill 2318 become law Tuesday without her signature.

Rep. Rida Cabanilla, a Democrat representing Waipahu and Ewa, says the law will help the chronically homeless who can’t cope with or aren’t accepted to emergency and transitional shelters.

Instead, they’ll be put in a stable housing environment where they’re more likely to learn to survive on their own.

The law doesn’t spend new money, but it asks the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to use existing funds for clientele who could benefit from direct housing.