| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that homelessness is one of the most pressing problems in Hawaii, which requires a robust, comprehensive, long-term solution to address the State's affordable housing and homelessness crisis. One important component of the solution is ensuring that low-income kupuna are not forced into homelessness through a combination of fixed incomes and rapidly rising rents. Therefore, a rent subsidy program targeted toward assisting kupuna in this situation is necessary. The legislature further finds that, over the last fifty years, the number of cost-burdened renters, or those paying more than thirty per cent of their income for rent, has significantly increased. Today, almost half of all renters in the State pay more than thirty per cent of their income for rent. High housing costs have driven more and more Hawaii residents into homelessness. Hawaii currently has the highest homelessness rate in the nation. The legislature additionally finds that by making smart investments in homelessness and housing, using data-driven practices, and improving coordination, Hawaii has gradually begun to turn the tide in the homelessness crisis. In 2017, Hawaii's homelessness rate went down for the first time in years, a trend that continued in 2018. During the regular session of 2018, the legislature made unprecedented levels of investment in low-income housing and homelessness, appropriating $200,000,000 for the rental housing revolving fund, $30,000,000 for ohana zones, and $13,500,000 for proven-effective and promising homelessness programs. The legislature also finds that, to turn back fifty years of growth in Hawaii's housing and homelessness crisis, investments of this scale must be made consistently in the coming years. Hawaii must prioritize programs that are the most cost-effective and target the most vulnerable populations, such as the State's kupuna. The 2017 Homeless Service Utilization Report found that there are 1,386 homeless elders in the State. Many more elders face homelessness as rents skyrocket. Due to the fixed incomes of elders, a long-term rental assistance program is needed. The purpose of this Act is to establish the long-term rental assistance pilot program for kupuna. SECTION 2. (a) There is established the long-term rental assistance pilot program for kupuna to be administered by the Hawaii public housing authority. The Hawaii public housing authority may enter into memoranda of agreement with the counties or specialized non-profit organizations as necessary to implement this Act. (b) The Hawaii public housing authority shall: (1) Provide long-term rental assistance to individuals who are sixty-two years of age or older and are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless; (2) Ensure that individuals participating in the program will not pay more than fifty per cent of their net income for rent; (3) Provide housing counseling and landlord assistance to assist kupuna in obtaining or retaining permanent housing; and (4) Coordinate with mental health services to assist kupuna in obtaining or retaining permanent housing. (c) The Hawaii public housing authority shall be exempt from chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in selecting a qualified non-profit organization to administer the long-term rental assistance pilot program for kupuna, and shall, without regard to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, establish rules and qualification standards for participants of the pilot program. (d) The Hawaii public housing authority may require long-term rental assistance pilot program for kupuna participants to participate in the Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry System for homeless services. (e) The Hawaii public housing authority shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, regarding the long-term rental assistance pilot program for kupuna to the legislature no later than one month prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. (f) The long-term rental assistance pilot program shall terminate on June 30, 2025. SECTION 3. 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 2022-2023 for the long-term rental assistance pilot program, including two temporary full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) public housing specialist positions within the Hawaii public housing authority. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that homelessness is one of the most pressing problems in Hawaii, which requires a robust, comprehensive, long-term solution to address Hawaii's affordable housing and homelessness crisis. One important component of the solution is ensuring that low-income kupuna are not forced into homelessness through a combination of fixed incomes and rapidly rising rents. Therefore, a rent subsidy program targeted toward assisting kupuna in this situation is necessary. The legislature further finds that, over the last fifty years, the number of cost-burdened renters, those paying more than thirty per cent of their income for rent, has significantly increased. Today, almost half of renters in the State pay more than thirty per cent of their income for rent. High housing costs have driven more and more Hawaii residents into homelessness and now Hawaii has the highest homelessness rate in the nation. The legislature additionally finds that by making smart investments in homelessness and housing, using data-driven practices, and improving coordination, Hawaii has gradually begun to turn the tide in the homelessness crisis. In 2017, Hawaii's homelessness rate went down for the first time in years, a trend that continued in 2018. During the regular session of 2018, the legislature made unprecedented levels of investment in low-income housing and homelessness, appropriating $200,000,000 for the rental housing revolving fund, $30,000,000 for ohana zones, and $13,500,000 for proven-effective and promising homelessness programs. The legislature also finds that, to turn back fifty years of growth in Hawaii's housing and homelessness crisis, investments of this scale must be made consistently in the coming years. Hawaii must prioritize programs that are the most cost-effective and target the most vulnerable populations, such as the State's kupuna. The latest Homeless Service Utilization Report (2017) found that there are 1,386 homeless elders in Hawaii. Many more elders face homelessness as rents skyrocket. Due to the fixed incomes of elders, a long-term rental assistance program is needed. The purpose of this Act is to establish the long-term rental assistance pilot program for kupuna. SECTION 2. (a) There is established the long-term rental assistance pilot program to be administered by the Hawaii public housing authority. The Hawaii public housing authority may enter into memoranda of agreement with the counties or specialized non-profit organizations as necessary to implement this Act. The Hawaii public housing authority shall: (1) Provide long-term rental assistance to individuals who are over sixty-two years of age and are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless; (2) Ensure that individuals participating in the program will not pay more than fifty per cent of their net income for rent; (3) Provide housing counseling and landlord assistance to assist elders in obtaining or retaining permanent housing; and (4) Coordinate with mental health services to assist elders in obtaining or retaining permanent housing. (b) The Hawaii public housing authority shall be exempt from chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in selecting a qualified non-profit organization to administer the long term rental assistance program for kupuna, and shall, without regard to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, establish rules and qualification standards for participants of the long-term rental assistance pilot program. (c) The Hawaii public housing authority shall require the long-term rental assistance program participants to participate in the Continuum of Care's Coordinated Entry System for homeless services. (d) The Hawaii public housing authority shall submit a report to the legislature of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, regarding the long-term rental assistance pilot program no later than one month prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. (e) The long-term rental assistance pilot program shall cease to exist on June 30, 2025. SECTION 3. 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 2022-2023 for the long-term rental assistance pilot program, including two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) public housing specialist positions within the Hawaii public housing authority. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ |
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