STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3522

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 217

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.C.R. No. 217 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO UTILIZE FUNDS FOR NON-CONGREGATE HOUSING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS FOR AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency to utilize funds for non-congregate housing for infrastructure and development needs for affordable rental housing.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Maui County Council.

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

Your Committee finds that the repopulation of the areas affected by the August 2023 Maui wildfires and the redevelopment of permanent affordable housing is estimated to take many years. Your Committee further finds that meeting the needs for additional interim housing solutions is critical to ensure flexibility in keeping communities together when the Federal Emergency Management Agency's rental assistance expires in 2025. Therefore, this measure requests the Federal Emergency Management Agency to use funds to develop infrastructure to meet the long-term housing needs of residents displaced by the August 2023 Maui wildfires.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 217 and recommends its adoption.

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

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STANLEY CHANG, Chair