HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	318
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO ADOPT A POLICY OF RESTRICTING PUBLIC HOUSING TENANCY TO NOT MORE THAN FIVE YEARS EXCEPT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

     WHEREAS, the cyclical nature of poverty perpetuates a lifestyle that is inherited from generation to generation; and

     WHEREAS, families born into poverty appear hopelessly caught in a self-fulfilling prophecy of welfare and public housing; and

     WHEREAS, except in certain cases, restricting public housing tenancy to not more than five years is an attempt to break this vicious cycle; and

     WHEREAS, although this policy may appear harsh on the surface, the policy will:

     (1)  Encourage and motivate upward economic mobility from low to moderate income for families who are overly dependent on public housing;

     (2)  Promote integrity in the public housing system to prevent "homesteading" and multi-generational tenancy; and

     (3)  Increase the supply of low-income housing to address the homeless problem in the State; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development is requested to consider adopting a policy to restrict public housing tenancy to not more than five years except for the elderly, the infirm, or in special cases for other humanitarian reasons; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Requests the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to Adopt a Policy of Restricting Public Housing Tenancy to not More than Five Years Except in Certain Circumstances