Bill Text: HI SB881 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Homelessness.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [SB881 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB881-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
881 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Chronic homelessness is distinct from other forms of homelessness and is defined by being continuously homeless for a year or more, or having had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. The unaddressed problem of chronic homelessness is a particularly costly problem for Hawaii that places a large burden on the State's health care and emergency service systems. Addressing chronic homelessness across the State will result in significant cost savings for health care and emergency services systems and create a solid foundation for addressing other forms of homelessness.
The legislature also finds that, according to the Partners in Care 2020 point in time report, Oahu has 3,257 chronically homeless individuals. Permanent supportive housing is the best way to address chronic homelessness. Permanent supportive housing is an approach to homelessness that integrates permanent, affordable rental housing with best practice community-based supportive services to allow individuals and households who have serious and long-term disabilities such as mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, substance use disorders, and chronic health conditions to maintain stable housing in the community.
An initial investment of $60,000,000 will cover the development and construction costs of one hundred permanent supportive housing units.
The purpose of this Act is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate bond proceeds to the Hawaii public housing authority to begin the development and construction with a qualified developer or operator of permanent supportive housing units to meet the housing needs of individuals in the State, including those individuals who are exiting correctional facilities, those with severe mental illness or developmental disabilities, and those who are stepping down from a higher level of care in institutional settings.
SECTION 2. The Hawaii housing finance and development corporation shall consider any applicable competitive federal low-income housing tax credits allowed under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that are needed for the construction of permanent supportive housing units developed and constructed pursuant to this Act to the Hawaii public housing authority, the developer or operator partnered with the Hawaii public housing authority for the construction of permanent supportive housing units, or both.
SECTION 3. (a) The Hawaii public housing authority shall include the status of the development and operation of permanent supportive housing units authorized under this Act in its annual report to the legislature required pursuant to section 356D-20, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
(b) The department of land and natural resources shall assist the Hawaii public housing authority by providing suitable public lands for this Act.
(c) The Hawaii public housing authority may partner with other appropriate government and non-government entities to ensure that sufficient and appropriate services are accounted for in the development and operation of permanent supportive housing units.
(d) In determining eligibility for the permanent supportive housing units, the Hawaii public housing authority may verify whether an individual or household qualifies as homeless, using the existing process of homeless verification letters provided by recognized homeless services providers.
SECTION 4. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ 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 2023-2024 for the initial phase of development and construction of up to one hundred permanent supportive housing units to meet the housing needs of individuals and families in the State, including those who are exiting correctional facilities, those with severe mental illness or developmental disabilities, and those who are stepping down from a higher level of care in institutional settings.
SECTION 5. 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, 2026, shall lapse as of that date.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
Report Title:
Permanent Supportive Housing; Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; General Obligation Bonds; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Appropriation
Description:
Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the development and construction of permanent supportive housing for certain vulnerable individuals. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to consider any available federal low-income housing tax credits needed for construction of permanent supportive housing units. Appropriates funds. (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
