Bill Text: HI HCR205 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Concurrent Resolution 205 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Maintenance

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-17 - (H) The committee(s) recommends that the measure be deferred. [HCR205 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HCR205-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	205
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

URGING THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A sustainable PLAN TO REPAIR all public housing UNITS IN NEED OF MAINTENANCE.

WHEREAS, the current fiscal climate has resulted in high unemployment rates, with many families losing income sources; and

WHEREAS, without viable sources of income, these families have been unable to pay for housing costs, dramatically increasing the homeless population and the need for reasonably-priced public housing; and

WHEREAS, even without the additional strain on the public housing system caused by the economy, there is a significant wait list for available public housing units; and

WHEREAS, the availability of clean, safe, and decent housing can play a significant role in an individual's emergence from poverty; and

WHEREAS, according to the January 2010 "State Occupancy Report," only 24 of 364 vacant units were "rent ready" and available for immediate occupancy; and

WHEREAS, including those units that are currently occupied, much of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority's (HPHA) inventory of affordable housing projects is nearly 60 years old and in a state of disrepair and deterioration; and

WHEREAS, the State's limited fiscal resources have been compounding the problem of deteriorating public housing, as cost-cutting efforts have resulted in both the acquisition of minimal quality infrastructure and an inability to maintain that infrastructure on an ongoing basis; and

WHEREAS, HPHA's current five-year plan, approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, includes provisions to improve the tenant rent collection to allow for more repair and renovation of existing public housing units; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that HPHA Board, in its efforts to provide lower income families with decent, safe, and sanitary housing, has been actively exploring ways to accomplish the renovation and repair of the State's public housing inventory; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature urges the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to develop and implement a sustainable plan to repair all public housing units in need of maintenance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that HPHA is urged to consider ways in which necessary renovations and maintenance may be undertaken at reduced or no cost through collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, the construction trades, and other relevant entities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chairperson of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority Board of Directors, and the Director of Public Safety.