Bill Text: HI SB2599 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Affordable Housing.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-23 - Referred to HOU, WAM. [SB2599 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SB2599-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2599
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii has the least affordable housing of any state in the nation and is facing a housing crisis due to the lack of affordable housing.  The legislature also finds that there are limited housing options for those who are transitioning out of homelessness or back into the workforce.

     Additionally, there may be residents of the State who do not qualify for federal assistance or federal housing programs.  In some cases, federal guidelines prohibit the assistance greatly needed by those who are transitioning out of homelessness and back into the workforce.  The Hawaii public housing authority helps provide affordable and supportive housing to qualified Hawaii residents, including individuals who are transitioning out of homelessness or faced with other circumstances.  A boarding house for persons emerging from homelessness and other transitional circumstances, managed by the Hawaii public housing authority, will increase the affordable housing options for Hawaii residents.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the Hawaii public housing authority to develop and implement a pilot project to establish a boarding house on state land on the island of Oahu to provide transitional housing for qualifying individuals; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The Hawaii public housing authority shall develop and implement a pilot project to establish a boarding house to assist those persons transitioning out of homelessness or re-entering the workforce.  The boarding house shall:

     (1)  Be located on state land on the island of Oahu;

     (2)  Consist of at least thirty units and include shared kitchens and bathrooms; and

     (3)  Be managed by the Hawaii public housing authority.

     (b)  The Hawaii public housing authority shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, necessary to develop and implement the boarding house pilot project, which may include:

     (1)  Eligibility or length of stay requirements for boarding house residents; or

     (2)  Establishing programs to teach the boarding house residents appropriate and necessary life skills, and address substance abuse, alcoholism, and mental health issues.

     (c)  The Hawaii public housing authority may collaborate with other departments as needed to carry out the pilot project.

     (d)  The Hawaii public housing authority shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations relating to the pilot project, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2022.  The report shall include a recommendation by the Hawaii public housing authority whether to continue, expand, or end the pilot project.

     SECTION 3.  The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $8,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the Hawaii public housing authority to plan, design, and construct a boarding house, or purchase and renovate as necessary a two- or three-story walk up building, for persons transitioning out of homelessness or re-entering the workforce, as described in section 2 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2022, shall lapse as of that date.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions within the Hawaii public housing authority to run the boarding house pilot project established in section 2 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Pilot Project; Boarding House; GO Bonds; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the Hawaii public housing authority to develop and implement a pilot project to establish a boarding house for those transitioning out of homelessness or re-entering the workforce.  Requires a report to the legislature.  Appropriates funds.

 

 

 

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