| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that homelessness continues to be one of Hawaii's most dire and persistent challenges. Native Hawaiians are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis. Although Native Hawaiians represent less than twenty per cent of the State's population, according to the 2020 point-in-time count, Native Hawaiians represent over half of all homeless individuals. The legislature further finds that the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, was enacted by the United States Congress to distribute benefits to native Hawaiians. These benefits include establishing a government-sponsored homesteading program. The department of Hawaiian home lands has been granted the authority to lease, not sell, land to native Hawaiian beneficiaries and provide financial assistance. However, the legislature finds that, according to the 2020 department of Hawaiian home lands applicant survey, approximately fifty per cent of applicants are considered "less qualified" for a mortgage. Further, of those surveyed, thirteen per cent desired to own a home and seven per cent desired a Kupuna apartment or affordable rental. The legislature finds that establishing a rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program, similar in nature to projects in Kapolei and west Hawaii island, would greatly benefit native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, and currently on the department of Hawaiian home lands waiting list. The legislature further finds that the department of Hawaiian home lands owns lots that are available for development along the Leeward coast of Oahu that might be suitable for this pilot program. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to: (1) Establish under the department of Hawaiian home lands a rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program on the Leeward coast of Oahu to provide housing and services to native Hawaiian beneficiaries, who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, and on the department of Hawaiian home lands waiting list; and (2) Appropriate funds to support the establishment of a rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program on the Leeward coast of Oahu. SECTION 2. (a) There is established the rent‑with‑option‑to-purchase pilot program on the Leeward coast of Oahu under the department of Hawaiian home lands to provide rent-with-option-to-purchase individual or shared micro housing units and services to native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, and on the department of Hawaiian home lands waiting list. The department may determine other eligibility requirements as necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. (b) The department may purchase lands and shall retain the authority to determine which lands to use for the rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program. (c) The department shall establish any terms, conditions, and requirements as necessary to facilitate the transfer of ownership in a unit to the lessee upon expiration of the rental term and the exercise of the option to purchase. (d) The department may cooperate with any state departments or agencies and private nonprofit organizations as needed to expedite the development and operation of housing under the rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program, including agencies with specific expertise in construction development and agencies with specific expertise in administering homeless services. The department may construct individual or shared micro housing units, that shall be situated on the Leeward coast of Oahu. (e) The department may coordinate with public or private entities, as appropriate, to develop and implement the rent‑with-option-to-purchase pilot program; provided that: (1) The department may work with the appropriate construction agency to ensure that the individual or shared micro housing units' infrastructure needs are met and minimize adverse impacts to the environment, including nearshore resources such as corals, reef fish, and seabirds; (2) Use of the individual or shared micro housing units may be used for affordable housing as may be determined by the department; and (3) The communities may allow for off-the-grid technologies that can provide drinking water, electricity, and process sewage without existing infrastructure. (f) The rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program may provide the following facilities and services: (1) Secure dwelling spaces that: (A) May be private or communal; (B) Are designed aesthetically and constructed of quality materials; (C) Have access to toilets, showers, and other hygiene facilities; (D) Have access to adequate facilities that allow for cooking and meal preparation; and (E) Have common spaces that build community and encourage sustainability; (2) Medical and social support services; and (3) Transportation to appointments related to medical care or supportive services that are not available onsite. (g) The department may consult with the department of human services and department of health to administer the rent‑with-option-to-purchase pilot program pursuant to this section. (h) As used in this section: "Department" means the department of Hawaiian home lands. "Leeward coast" means lands on the island of Oahu west of Kapolei. "Threatened with homelessness" means lacking the resources to maintain the mortgage, utility, taxes, or other expenses associated with maintaining a residence. (i) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to be inconsistent with, or contrary to, any act of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act 1920, as amended, or any regulation promulgated or standard established pursuant thereto. (j) The rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program shall not be implemented with any funds from the $600,000,000 appropriation made to the department of Hawaiian home lands pursuant to Act 279, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022. 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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish and administer the rent‑with‑option‑to-purchase pilot program on the Leeward coast of Oahu. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of Hawaiian home lands for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050. |
|---|
| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that homelessness continues to be one of Hawaii's most dire and persistent challenges. Native Hawaiians are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis. Although Native Hawaiians represent less than twenty percent of the State's population, according to the 2020 point-in-time count, Native Hawaiians represent over half of all homeless individuals. The legislature further finds that the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act 1920, as amended, was enacted by the United States Congress to distribute benefits to native Hawaiians. These benefits include establishing a government-sponsored homesteading program. The department of Hawaiian home lands has been granted the authority to lease, not sell, land to native Hawaiian beneficiaries and provide financial assistance. However, the legislature finds that, according to the 2020 department of Hawaiian home lands applicant survey, approximately fifty per cent of applicants are considered "less qualified" for a mortgage. Further, of those surveyed, thirteen per cent desired to own a home and seven per cent desired a Kupuna apartment or affordable rental. The legislature finds that establishing a rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program, similar in nature to projects in Kapolei and west Hawaii island, would greatly benefit native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, and currently on the department of Hawaiian home lands waiting list. The legislature further finds that the department of Hawaiian home lands owns lots that are available for development along the Leeward coast of Oahu that might be suitable for this pilot program. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to: (1) Establish under the department of Hawaiian home lands a rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program on the Leeward coast of Oahu to provide housing and services to native Hawaiian beneficiaries, who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, and on the department of Hawaiian home lands waiting list; and (2) Appropriate funds to support the establishment of a rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program on the Leeward coast of Oahu. SECTION 2. (a) There is established the rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program on the Leeward coast of Oahu under the department of Hawaiian home lands to provide rent-with-option-to-purchase individual or shared micro housing units and services to native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, and on the department of Hawaiian home lands waiting list. The department may determine other eligibility requirements as necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. (b) The department shall be authorized to purchase lands and shall retain the authority to determine which lands to use for the rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes. (c) The department shall establish any terms, conditions, and requirements as necessary to facilitate the transfer of ownership in a unit to the lessee upon the expiration of the lease and the exercise of the option to purchase. (d) The department may cooperate with any state departments or agencies and private nonprofit organizations as needed to expedite the development and operation of housing under the rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program, including agencies with specific expertise in construction development and agencies with specific expertise in administering homeless services. The department may construct individual or shared micro housing units, that shall be situated on the Leeward coast of Oahu. (e) The department may coordinate with public or private entities, as appropriate, to develop and implement the rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program; provided that: (1) The department may work with the appropriate construction agency to ensure that the individual or shared micro housing units' infrastructure needs are met and minimize adverse impacts to the environment, including nearshore resources such as corals, reef fish, and seabirds; (2) Use of the individual or shared micro housing units may be used for affordable housing through a deed restriction, easement, or other legally binding measure; and (3) The communities may allow for off-the-grid technologies that can provide drinking water, electricity, and process sewage without existing infrastructure. (f) The rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program may provide the following facilities and services: (1) Secure dwelling spaces that: (A) May be private or communal; (B) Are designed aesthetically and constructed of quality materials; (C) Have access to toilets, showers, and other hygiene facilities; (D) Have access to adequate facilities that allow for cooking and meal preparation; and (E) Have common spaces that build community and encourage sustainability. (2) Medical and social support services; and (3) Transportation to appointments related to medical care or supportive services that are not available onsite. (g) The department may consult with the department of human services and department of health to administer the rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program pursuant to this section. (h) As used in this section: "Department" means the department of Hawaiian home lands. "Rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program" means the pilot program on the Leeward coast of Oahu established under this Act, that provides individual or shared micro housing units and services to native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, and on the department of Hawaiian home lands waiting list. "Leeward coast" means lands on the island of Oahu west of Kapolei. "Threatened with homelessness" means lacking the resources to maintain the mortgage, utility, taxes, or other expenses associated with owning a traditional department of Hawaiian home lands property. (i) Nothing in this Act shall be inconsistent with, or contrary to, any act of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act 1920, as amended, or any regulation promulgated or standard established pursuant thereto. (j) The rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program shall not be implemented with any funds from the $600,000,000 appropriation made to the department of Hawaiian home lands pursuant to Act 279, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022. 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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish and administer the rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program on the Leeward coast of Oahu. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of Hawaiian home lands for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023. |
|---|