Bill Text: HI SCR93 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: HHFDC; Single Room Occupancy
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-04-21 - (H) Received notice of Agreement and Adoption (Sen. Com. No. 625). [SCR93 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-SCR93-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
93 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO REVIEW THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY DWELLINGS IN TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TO ALLEVIATE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE.
WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that the need for more affordable housing in Hawaii remains a significant problem affecting all segments of society; and
WHEREAS, single room occupancy (SRO) dwellings offer a viable housing option for low-income individuals, students, single tenants, seasonal or other traveling workers, empty nester widows or widowers, and others who do not require large dwellings or private domestic appliances; and
WHEREAS, SRO dwellings are an option to alleviate the affordable housing shortage, especially in urban areas with high land values; and
WHEREAS, a typical SRO dwelling is a single eight-by-ten-foot room with shared bathrooms and kitchens; and
WHEREAS, cities across the United States have a history of SRO dwellings or "residential hotels" that were populated by low‑wage workers, transient laborers, and recent immigrants; and
WHEREAS, SRO hotels in the 19th century were extremely vital to immigrant populations; and
WHEREAS, in the second half of the 20th century, as the prices of land increased, landowners across the United States demolished an estimated 1,000,000 SRO hotels; and
WHEREAS, an epidemic of SRO demolitions was one of the primary causes of widespread homelessness in the United States; and
WHEREAS, currently, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has an SRO Program that provides rental assistance for homeless persons in connection with moderate rehabilitation of SRO dwellings; and
WHEREAS, the federal SRO Program is designed to bring more standard SRO dwellings to the local housing supply to assist homeless individuals; and
WHEREAS, the SRO dwellings may be in a rundown hotel, an old school, or even in a large abandoned home; and
WHEREAS, with the evolution of our society, SRO dwellings can accommodate a broader spectrum of individuals who are homeless or among the working poor; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) is requested to review the feasibility of developing SRO dwellings in transit oriented development projects to alleviate the affordable housing shortage; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the feasibility study include findings on the impact on transit oriented development projects, estimated costs, target beneficiaries, short-term and long-term effects, and sustainability of developing SRO dwellings in transit oriented development projects; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that HHFDC is requested to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2011; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director of HHFDC and Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
HHFDC; Single Room Occupancy
