STAND. COM. REP. NO. 369

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 1395

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1395 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation for the state rent supplement program.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Human Services, Hawaii Kai Task Force, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Our Revolution Hawaii, Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation, and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

 

     Your Committees find that the state rent supplement program has proven to be effective in securing and maintaining housing for working individuals, senior or disabled individuals, and families who are homeless.  The state rent supplement program provides a relatively shallow, but sustained, rental subsidy to enable vulnerable households or those at imminent risk of homelessness to close the rental affordability gap, maintain housing, and achieve self-sufficiency.  The rental assistance provided by this measure will support working families achieve housing stability, which promotes employment and educational success and supports good health outcomes.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1395 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Housing,

 

________________________________

STANLEY CHANG, Chair

 

________________________________

RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair