STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3248

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1859

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1859, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the State Rent Supplement Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Partners In Care, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, and Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii faces a severe homelessness crisis. Importantly, the State Rent Supplement Program provides relief to households that are at immediate risk of becoming homeless. The program allows the State to significantly reduce homelessness with relatively fewer resources than other affordable housing programs. However, continued funding for the program is essential. This measure ensures the continuation of the State Rent Supplement Program by appropriating funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an appropriation amount of $1,500,000 and including one full-time (1.0 FTE) Public Housing Specialist II position.

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 H.B. No. 1859, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1859, 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 Committee on Housing,

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STANLEY CHANG, Chair