HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

734

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HOUSING.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§346-    Housing first voucher program.  (a)  There is established within the department, the housing first voucher program to provide vouchers to provider agencies to assist qualified individuals in obtaining rental housing.

     (b)  The department shall:

     (1)  Contract with provider agencies or implement programs within the department to locate and obtain rental housing for qualified individuals; and

     (2)  Refer qualified individuals to provider agencies or department programs with available housing first vouchers.

     (c)  A provider agency or department program that receives a housing first voucher under this section shall place qualified individuals in rental housing units obtained by the provider agency or department program and funded by housing first vouchers.  The provider agency or department program shall:

(1)  Identify appropriate rental housing units;

(2)  Enter into rental contracts with the landlord of the identified units to be occupied by qualified individuals;

(3)  Make direct payments, funded by housing first vouchers, to landlords pursuant to rental contracts and chapter 521;

(4)  Place qualified individuals in the rental housing units; and

(5)  Provide or arrange for appropriate support services to successfully maintain the qualified individual's tenancy.

     (d)  The contract between the provider agency or department program and the landlord of the rental housing unit shall be subject to chapter 521 and shall include the initial rent of the unit, any redetermined rent of the unit, the contract term of the unit, and the rights and responsibilities of the provider agency or department program, landlord, and tenant.

     (e)  Any voucher issued under this section shall be retained by the respective provider agency or department program.  In cases where a rental housing unit vacancy occurs, the provider agency or department program shall identify a new qualified individual to fill the vacancy and shall inform the landlord.  In the case of termination of the rental contract, the landlord shall provide notice to the qualified individual and the provider agency or department program pursuant to the terms of the rental contract and chapter 521.  The provider agency or department program shall identify, obtain, and contract for a replacement rental housing unit for the displaced qualified individual.

     (f)  Voucher assistance payments under this section shall be subject to the availability and appropriation of funds as specified under the housing first special fund established under section 346-377.

     (g)  The department shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to implement this section.

     (h)  As used in this section:

"Qualified individual" means a chronically homeless individual as defined in section 346-378 whom a provider agency or department program deems qualified for placement in rental housing under this section."

     SECTION 2.  Section 346-377, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Moneys in the housing first special fund shall be administered and expended by the department of human services and shall be used to provide housing first programs and services[.]; provided that     per cent of the moneys deposited into the special fund each fiscal year shall be used for the housing first voucher program under section 346-   ."

     SECTION 3.  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 2015-2016 and the sum of $         or so much thereof as may necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to be deposited into the housing first special fund established under section 346-377, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the housing first special fund the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the purposes of this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.


 


 

Report Title:

Housing First Voucher Program; Homelessness

 

Description:

Establishes the housing first voucher program within the Department of Human Services.  Appropriates general funds to the Housing First Special Fund to implement the program.  (HB734 HD1)

 

 

 

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