THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1255
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to housing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii has one of the highest rates of homelessness per capita of any state in the nation. Hawaii also has the highest rate in the nation, per capita, of chronically unsheltered homeless. According to the Hawaii Homelessness Initiative Point in Time Count for 2020, an estimated 6,458 people live on the streets and in shelters in Hawaii. Addressing homelessness requires a multi-faceted approach that uses interventions targeted to the characteristics of the population being served. The state rent supplement program for homeless families and individuals is critically necessary to address homelessness.

The legislature further finds that the state rent supplement program provides a "shallow", but sustained subsidy to struggling households. Unlike the "deep" subsidy housing choice voucher program, better known as the section 8 program, which helps families at the lowest ends of the income scale by bridging a wide affordability gap between income and housing costs, the state rent supplement program helps households who are closer to financial self‑sufficiency but still have a narrow affordability gap to fill. The state rent supplement program provides an ongoing subsidy, enabling homeless households or those at imminent risk of homelessness to close the affordability gap, maintain housing, and achieve self-sufficiency.

Because individual subsidies under the state rent supplement program are relatively low, the subsidies can resolve homelessness for many individuals and families relative to the total cost of the subsidy program.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to support the state rent supplement program.

SECTION 2. 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 for the state rent supplement program established pursuant to section 356D-151, Hawaii Revised Statutes; provided that the Hawaii public housing authority:

(1) May enter into memoranda of agreement with the counties or specialized non-profit organizations as necessary to allocate and disburse the funds for the state rent supplement program; and

(2) Shall be exempt from chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in selecting a specialized non-profit organization to administer the allocation and disbursement of the funds for the state rent supplement program.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaii Public Housing Authority; State Rent Supplement Program; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii public housing authority for the state rent supplement program.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.