STAND. COM. REP. NO. 16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 155

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 155 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation for the construction of micro apartment housing units.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Department of Human Services, Catholic Charities Hawaii, GLBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Association of REALTORS, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery, Partners in Care, PHOCUSED, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, and six individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that affordable housing is a serious concern for many Hawaii residents.  According to the 2011 Hawaii Housing Planning Study, up to 50,000 new housing units will need to be built by 2016 to meet the new demand generated by changing demographics and economic conditions.  Failure to produce sufficient units for low- and moderate-income households will cause pent-up demand in these market segments.

 

     Cities with high or increasing rental costs, such as Hong Kong, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, have developed micro apartment units to provide an innovative and affordable housing option.  Your Committee finds that the development of micro apartment units could improve the availability of affordable housing in Hawaii, where rent and property prices are also high.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 155 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair