STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1537

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.R. No. 253

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.R. No. 253 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FAIR AND EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC HOUSING BY REMOVING PREFERENCES IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to improve access to public housing by urging the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (Authority) to eliminate preferences in the public housing application process.

     Several concerned individuals testified in support of this resolution.  The Authority, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Catholic Conference, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and Community Alliance Partners opposed this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 253 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

____________________________

RIDA CABANILLA, Chair