STAND. COM. REP. NO. 387

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1244

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1244 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the State Rent Supplement Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Chief Housing Officer of the Office of the Governor, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Family Promise of Hawai‘i, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that low-income renter households are cost burdened by housing costs, with many of these households dedicating over half of their monthly income to rent and utilities. The Hawaii Public Housing Authority has found the State Rent Supplement Program to be among its most impactful and cost-effective programs and keeps its participants housed and employed. There are many families across the State who have the financial means to pay for housing but cannot quite afford a place to live due to Hawaii's high cost of living. Your Committee further finds that providing funds for the State Rent Supplement Program will enable eligible families to pay for part of their monthly rent, thereby helping at-risk individuals and families close the affordability gap, maintain their housing, and maintain stability.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1244, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1244, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

____________________________

TROY N. HASHIMOTO, Chair