STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1525

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 1031

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Housing and Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 1031, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a long-term rental assistance pilot program for individuals who are over the age of sixty years old and are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force, Young Democrats of Hawai‘i, and an individual submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Health opposed this measure. The Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the administering agency of the long-term rental assistance pilot program from the Department of Health to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority;

(2) Adding one additional year to the reporting requirement to account for activities in Fiscal Year 2021-2022; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committees note that an increase in funding to the Executive Budget instead of establishing and funding a long-term rental assistance pilot project may be more efficient since the Hawaii Public Housing Authority currently administers a state elderly public housing program for individuals over sixty-two years old. Your Committees are committed to working with your Committee on Finance to determine the most appropriate way to achieve the important public policy of assisting elderly individuals experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness.

Your Committees also note the recommendation of the Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force to expand the rental assistance pilot project to include individuals with disabilities who are not served by any other programs.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Human Services & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1031, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1031, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

____________________________ TOM BROWER, Chair