| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the homelessness rate per capita in Hawaii is among the highest in the nation. Hawaii also has the highest rate in the nation per capita of chronically unsheltered homeless. According to the Hawaii Homelessness Initiative Point in Time Report for 2020, an estimated 6,458 people live on the streets and in shelters in Hawaii. Addressing homelessness requires a multi-faceted approach that uses interventions that are targeted to the characteristics of the population being served. The state rent supplement for homeless families and individuals is critically necessary to address homelessness. The legislature further finds that the state rent supplement program, established pursuant to part VIII of chapter 356D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and administered by the Hawaii public housing authority, provides a "shallow" but sustained subsidy to struggling households. Unlike the "deep" subsidy housing choice voucher program, better known as the section 8 program, which helps families at the lowest ends of the income scale by bridging a wide affordability gap between income and housing costs, the state rent supplement program helps households who are closer to financial self‑sufficiency but still have a narrow affordability gap to fill. The state rent supplement program provides an ongoing subsidy, enabling homeless households or those at imminent risk of homelessness to close the affordability gap, maintain housing, and achieve self-sufficiency. Because individual subsidies under the state rent supplement program is relatively low, the program can resolve homelessness for many individuals and families relative to the total cost of the subsidy program. The purpose of this Act is to: (1) Require the state rent supplement program to open its statewide waiting list and provide rent supplements to two hundred additional qualified tenants; and (2) Appropriate funds for the program, including funding for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) public housing specialist II position within the Hawaii public housing authority. SECTION 2. The state rent supplement program shall open its statewide waiting list and provide rent supplements to two hundred additional qualified tenants. 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 state rent supplement program, including funding for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) public housing specialist II position 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. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii has the highest rate of homelessness per capita of any state in the nation. Hawaii also has the highest rate in the nation, per capita, of chronically unsheltered homeless. According to the Hawaii Homelessness Initiative Point in Time Report for 2020, an estimated 6,458 people live on the streets and in shelters in Hawaii. Addressing homelessness requires a multi-faceted approach that uses interventions that are targeted to the characteristics of the population being served. The state rent supplement for homeless families and individuals is critically necessary to address homelessness. The legislature further finds that the state rent supplement program provides a "shallow", but sustained subsidy to struggling households. Unlike the "deep" subsidy housing choice voucher program, better known as the section 8 program, which helps families at the lowest ends of the income scale by bridging a wide affordability gap between income and housing costs, the state rent supplement program helps households who are closer to financial self‑sufficiency but still have a narrow affordability gap to fill. The state rent supplement program provides an ongoing subsidy, enabling homeless households or those at imminent risk of homelessness to close the affordability gap, maintain housing, and achieve self-sufficiency. Because individual subsidies under state rent supplement programs are relatively low, the programs can resolve homelessness for many individuals and families relative to the total cost of the subsidy program. The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to support the state rent supplement program. SECTION 2. 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 state rent supplement program established pursuant to section 356D-151, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ |
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