HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H. R. NO.

255

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING authority TO INSTITUTE A FIVE year MAXIMUM STAY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the legislature finds that one's environment may lead to a cyclical nature of poverty perpetuating a lifestyle that is inherited from generation to generation; and

 

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

 

     WHEREAS, the purpose of this resolution is to break this vicious cycle urging the Hawaii Public Housing Board to limit public housing tenancies to five years except for veterans, elderly and disabled; and

 

     WHEREAS, although this policy may appear harsh, it is intended to encourage and motivate upward economic mobility from low- to moderate-income for families who are overly dependent on public housing; and

 

WHEREAS, this policy will promote integrity in the public housing system to prevent "homesteading" and multi-generational tenancy; and

 

WHEREAS, this policy will also reduce housing fraud for those who take cash jobs and do not report any income; and

 

     WHEREAS, it will also increase the supply of low-income housing to give a fair opportunity to the 14,000 applicants on the waiting list; and

 

     WHEREAS, limiting the tenancies to five years will encourage those on public housing to become self-sufficient within five years; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Hawaii Public Housing Board is urged to institute a five year maximum stay for public housing; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the current public housing tenants be adequately advise of the new policy; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the executive director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority and the Board members.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, FIVE YEAR MAXIMUM STAY.