Bill Text: HI SB757 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Housing; Shelter in Place Pilot Program; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [SB757 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-SB757-Amended.html
Report Title:
Housing; Shelter in Place Pilot Program; Appropriation
Description:
Authorizes the Hawaii public housing authority to establish a shelter in place pilot program to provide a subsidy, including grants, loans, and no-interest loans, to low- and moderate-income homeowners and renters that are at risk of losing their home or rental due to a job loss or loss of work hours; authorizes the authority to contract the services; appropriates moneys. (SD1)
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
757 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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 the sudden and disastrous economic downturn in Hawaii will result in both renters and homeowners losing their homes. Of the current mortgages in Hawaii, 10.9 per cent are with subprime lenders, and the number of foreclosures has tripled since the same time last year. That number is expected to rise as the effects of the subprime lending collapse take hold.
This situation is further exacerbated by job losses and cutbacks in hours of work. With housing costs in Hawaii already among the highest in the nation, families that had been making ends meet with multiple jobs, may no longer be able to do so. In addition, cutbacks in the construction industry will also impact the available housing market.
The legislature further finds that state estimates project that in addition to an annual average of seventeen thousand homeless people in Hawaii, there are over ninety-six thousand people who are "hidden homeless", living with others and unable to rent on their own. Beyond this, the State estimates that two hundred sixty-two thousand residents are at risk of homelessness – these are the people who would become homeless in less than three months if they lost their primary source of income.
The purpose of this Act is to help people remain in their homes by establishing a shelter in place pilot program.
SECTION 2. (a) The Hawaii public housing authority shall establish a shelter in place pilot program, and may contract for services to provide a subsidy, including grants, loans, and no-interest loans, to low- and moderate-income homeowners and renters that are at risk of losing their home or rental due to a job loss or loss of work hours.
(b) An eligible homeowner or renter may receive per cent of the monthly mortgage or rental payment, not to exceed $ for a period not to exceed months, while engaged in looking for additional work or moving into a less expensive housing alternative. Homeowners or renters who receive subsidy payments may be required to provide hours of volunteer service time to a Hawaii nonprofit agency that provides housing related services. The Hawaii public housing authority shall determine the number of hours required to be served, based on the subsidy amounts, and shall maintain a list of nonprofit housing service related agencies.
(c) The Hawaii public housing authority shall submit an annual report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2010 and 2011 on the status of the shelter in place pilot program and any contracts awarded to provide shelter in place services, including the number of individuals and families served, the amounts of subsidies awarded, and the amounts of volunteer hours served, .
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 2009-2010 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 for the shelter in place pilot program.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009.
