STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1077-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2442

      S.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2442, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to help meet the current and projected needs for affordable housing in Hawaii by appropriating moneys to the Rental Housing Trust Fund for the construction of micro units, family units, and elder housing units to be leased to individuals and families meeting certain income requirements.

The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, PHOCUSED, Partners in Care, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Community Alliance for Mental Health, United Self Help, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and Hawaii Catholic Conference provided testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee notes that Hawaii is facing a housing shortage and that Honolulu is tied as being the least affordable city for renters in the country.  According to the 2011 Hawaii Housing Planning Study, as many as 50,000 new units are needed by 2016.  The need for affordable housing is a real issue in the State that is represented by the 13,000 rental housing units required to keep up with the projected demand for these units by households with less than 80 percent of the median income by 2016.  This measure works toward ensuring Hawaii's residents have access to affordable housing.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2442, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair