Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Housing and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 2566 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to promote near-term development of affordable housing near Honolulu's urban core by:

The Hawaii Community Development Authority and Self-Help Housing Corporation of Hawaii testified in support of this bill. Several concerned individuals supported this measure with amendments. A concerned individual opposed this bill.

Your Committees find that more affordable housing is needed in Honolulu's urban core. Currently, families seeking affordable housing on Oahu are often forced to move to areas on the Leeward Coast because of urban Honolulu's high housing costs.

Your Committees would like to emphasize that a need exists not only for homeownership but also for affordable housing rentals in Honolulu and that more housing options are needed for households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median family income.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2566 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.