STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1396

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.R. No. 63

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.R. No. 63 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE CONVERSION OF THE FRONT STREET APARTMENTS IN LAHAINA, MAUI, TO MARKET-RATE HOUSING AND URGING THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO EXPLORE WAYS TO PRESERVE THE FRONT STREET APARTMENTS AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1)  Affirm that the House of Representatives opposes the conversion of affordable housing to market-rate housing; and

(2)  Urge the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) to explore all options available to preserve the Front Street Apartments on Maui as affordable housing.

The Maui County Council Chair, Maui County Council Member representing East Maui, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, Front Street Affordable Apartments Committee, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  HHFDC provided comments on 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. 63 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

TOM BROWER, Chair