STAND. COM. REP. NO. 608-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2324

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Housing and Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2324 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for prefabricated, modular, or kauhale-type housing for homeless individuals and low-income households.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; one member of the Maui County Council; and Maui Chamber of Commerce. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board.

Your Committees find that "kauhale" traditionally means a Hawaiian village and houses members of an ohana, whether related by blood or not. The concept of kauhale maximizes the sense of community by recognizing and celebrating an individual's skill, knowledge, and experience with others. While significant strides have been made, current attempts to address homelessness in Hawaii remain insufficient, as the State continues to have the highest number of homeless individuals per capita of any state in the nation. Your Committees believe that the kauhale housing model, which is grounded in Hawaiian culture and values, presents an opportunity to improve the lives of people experiencing homeless or on the verge of becoming homeless.

Your Committees note that while this measure is intended to ensure that some of the State's most vulnerable communities are housed and healthy, your Committees acknowledge that more detail regarding the estimated costs to implement and administer the types of housing proposed by this measure is needed to enable your Committee on Finance to make an informed decision and provide the funds necessary to support this measure.

Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Health & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2324, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2324, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Health & Homelessness,

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair

____________________________ LUKE A. EVSLIN, Chair