STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3080

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2244

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Housing and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2244, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the following housing programs and services:

     (1)  The rental housing revolving fund to be used for rental housing units;

     (2)  The State's Housing First program to be used for the continued implementation of the program and expansion of the program outside Oahu;

     (3)  The repair and maintenance of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority's existing public housing stock; and

     (4)  A rental assistance program, also known as the shallow subsidy program, within the Department of Human Services to be used for homeless working individuals and their families who are ready to rent permanent housing, with certain eligibility requirements.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Coordinator on Homelessness under the Office of the Governor; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; PHOCUSED; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS; Partners in Care; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; Hawaii Children's Action Network; United Public Workers, Local 646; and two individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committees find that there is a severe shortage of affordable housing in Hawaii, and the shortage places an immense strain on lower-income households.  In addition, many families are threatened with homelessness, as seventy-five percent of extremely low-income households spend more than half of their income on rent.  Your Committees further find that, in addition to increasing the supply and quality of public and affordable housing stock, this measure would create jobs, reduce homelessness, and allow low-income families to spend more of their income on essentials such as food and medical care.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by substituting references to the "shallow subsidy program" with "rapid-re-housing program".

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2244, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2244, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Human Services,

________________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

________________________________ BREENE HARIMOTO, Chair