HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1132

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HOUSING.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that nearly fifty years ago, the State issued a report stating that Hawaii had been experiencing a serious housing problem for many years, which by then had become a crisis.  In the decades since, the State's housing problem has worsened.  High housing costs and a lack of affordable housing particularly affect kupuna living on fixed low incomes.

     The legislature further finds that the State is beginning to see the effects of a growing aging population.  Hawaii's elderly population, those sixty-five years and older, increased thirty-three per cent from 2010 to 2018, reflecting an annual growth of 3.6 per cent, compared with Hawaii's total annual population growth of 0.5 per cent.

     The legislature also finds that renters are at increased risk of becoming homeless due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.  Even prior to the pandemic, studies predicted that homelessness among the elderly would increase by three hundred per cent over the next ten years.  The legislature finds that investing in rental housing for the elderly is critical to ensuring safe, decent, and affordable housing for the State's kupuna.  The 2019 Hawaii Housing Planning Study found that 1,967 units of housing are needed by 2025 for low to moderate income elderly households, with members aged sixty and older.

     The legislature additionally finds that phase 1 of the School street elderly housing project on the island of Oahu on Hawaii public housing authority property will include two hundred fifty units for kupuna with incomes at sixty per cent of the area median or below, which would provide critical momentum to develop the eight hundred rental units planned for all three phases of this redevelopment.  The legislature notes that because the land is currently being used for the authority's administration, displacement of residents will not occur.  The proposed housing project, located near a city bus stop and situated next to the Lanakila mu1ti—purpose senior center and close to medical facilities, shopping, and community businesses and activities, will encourage community engagement to keep seniors healthy.  Phase 1 of the School street elderly housing project will also act as an economic driver to improve economic and employment stability.  Furthermore, hundreds of jobs would be generated during and after construction.  The legislature also notes that this project has received all necessary land use permits and entitlements to begin construction once funds are secured.

     The purpose of this Act is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for the construction of phase I of a senior affordable housing project on Hawaii public housing authority property on School street on the island of Oahu.

     SECTION 2.  The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2021-2022 to be deposited into the rental housing revolving fund established pursuant to section 201H-202, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the rental housing revolving fund established pursuant to section 201H-202, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the sum of $            or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2021-2022 for construction of phase I of the School street elderly housing project, a senior affordable housing project on Hawaii public housing authority property on School street on the island of Oahu.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.



 

Report Title:

General Obligation Bonds; Rental Housing Revolving Fund; Senior Affordable Housing; Appropriation

 

Description:

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to be appropriated into and out of the rental housing revolving fund for construction of phase I of a senior affordable housing project on Hawaii public housing authority property on School street, on the island of Oahu.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

 

 

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