STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3090

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2677

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2677, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the long-term rental assistance pilot program to 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.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes the long-term rental assistance pilot program to be administered by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority;

(2) Authorizes the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to enter into memoranda of agreement with the counties or specialized nonprofit organizations to implement the pilot program;

(3) Establishes the duties and requirements of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority in relation to the pilot program, including the submittal of a report to the Legislature;

(4) Dissolves the pilot program on June 30, 2025; and

(5) Appropriates moneys to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the pilot program, including the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) public housing specialist positions.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, Partners In Care, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that as the cost of living in the State continues to increase, many senior citizens are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, homelessness. Your Committee believes that this measure is an appropriate way to help these kupuna obtain or retain long-term or permanent housing.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2677, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair