Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 247 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

1. Allow persons receiving public assistance from the Department of Human Services (DHS), but not from the federal Supplemental Security Income Program, to be eligible for assistance by the State Rent Supplement Program; and
2. Make an appropriation for the State Rent Supplement Program.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Catholic Charities Elderly Services and the Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance. The Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii and DHS supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee recognizes that as many as 77 percent of Hawaii's families projected to be cut from public assistance are living in private market housing. Without the rent supplement of $160 per month, many families would be unable to pay the full rent after the loss of their public assistance payments.

Rental supplements can assist individuals make the successful transition to self-sufficiency. Moreover, rental supplement programs have kept low-income seniors from becoming homeless and have enabled them to live in safe and decent housing.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 247, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 247, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.