THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

67

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the hawaii housing finance and development corporation to develop a collaborative plan to best leverage available state and county funds to build affordable housing projects.

 

 


     WHEREAS, the lack of affordable housing has been one of Hawaii's most significant and challenging social problems, with home prices and rental costs for Hawaii's residents continuing to escalate; and

 

     WHEREAS, a shortage of affordable workforce housing compounds the problem with traffic congestion, as growing numbers of families are unable to find reasonably priced housing near their workplaces; and

 

     WHEREAS, increased construction of affordable workforce housing supports the goals of the counties and the State to address Hawaii's affordable housing crisis; and

 

     WHEREAS, the counties and the State both have administrative and funding resources through which they are able to develop, or encourage the development of, affordable workforce housing; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation is a statewide agency tasked with developing affordable housing and has the proven record and resources in the planning, development, construction, and financing of affordable housing, as well as the existing relationships needed to engage in public-private partnerships to build more affordable housing; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, that the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation is requested to develop a collaborative plan to best leverage the various affordable housing funds of the State and each county to build affordable housing projects; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation is requested to work with the appropriate government agencies to identify and fund the necessary infrastructure improvements needed for the construction of affordable housing projects; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation is requested to examine the potential of a unified affordable housing approval process to streamline the regulatory requirements for building affordable housing projects on all islands in the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Executive Director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Interim Executive Director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, and Mayor of each county.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Affordable Housing Projects; Collaborative Plan