STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2312

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2344

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2344 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the development and construction of permanent supportive housing for certain vulnerable individuals; and

(2) Require the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to consider any available federal low-income housing tax credits needed for construction of permanent supportive housing units.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi State Youth Commission, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Partners in Care, and two individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Human Services, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii currently has a large homeless population, many of whom are chronically homeless. Lack of a supportive housing system impacts the ability for these individuals to live independently, and once housed, fifty to seventy percent of chronically homeless individuals seek treatment and show a willingness to improve their quality of life. This measure establishes a supportive housing program to give these individuals a chance at recovery.

Your Committee has heard the concerns raised by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation with regard to this measure's lack of a permanent source of funding to pay for long-term on-site supportive services and building maintenance over the life of the facility. Your Committee finds that these issues and concerns merit further consideration and requests that future Committees further examine these issues and concerns as this measure advances through the legislative process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate bond proceeds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to begin the development and construction with a qualified developer or operator of permanent supporting housing units, or both; and

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

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 S.B. No. 2344, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2344, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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STANLEY CHANG, Chair