THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	912
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to hoUSING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that chronic homelessness in Hawaii is a serious problem.  One of the many barriers faced by homeless persons is the lack of available rental housing.  The legislature also finds that King county, in Washington state, created the landlord liaison project in March 2009 to help homeless clients obtain private market rental housing.  The landlord liaison project created incentives for landlords to relax their screening criteria for homeless people who face barriers in accessing permanent housing.  In the first ten months of the project, the King county landlord liaison project was quite successful.  One hundred forty-seven households were placed in permanent housing, and ninety-six per cent of the client households retained their housing six months after moving in.  The legislature finds that Hawaii would greatly benefit by funding a similar project to help increase the availability of rental housing for persons who face obstacles in moving from homelessness to permanent housing and persons with lower incomes who need to find affordable rental housing.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the creation of a landlord liaison project.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011-2012 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2012-2013 for the creation and funding of a landlord liaison project.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2011.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Landlord Liaison Project; Homelessness; Affordable Housing; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for a landlord liaison project; funds to be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority.

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