Hawai'i Community Development Authority

Maui News

Green signs bills on affordable housing, reducing homelessness

June 22, 2023

Central Maui state Rep. Troy Hashimoto speaks during a news conference in Honolulu on Wednesday alongside Gov. Josh Green, left, who signed several bills aimed at increasing affordable housing and reducing homelessness. Photo courtesy Governor’s Office.

Gov. Josh Green signed multiple bills on Wednesday aimed at expanding access to housing and providing assistance to people at risk of becoming homeless in what one Maui lawmaker called “a monumental year” in addressing the state’s affordable housing crisis.

“Since taking office, tackling the hard issues of housing and homelessness has been at the forefront of my Administration’s efforts,” Green said. “Unless we address the lack of affordable housing in our state head-on, the housing crisis will continue to affect the quality of life for all our communities, which is why I am pleased to be signing various bills that work to provide some solutions to help those most in need.”

Some of the bills signed by Green focus on encouraging the development of affordable housing.

Senate Bill 764, now Act 96, will allow banks to invest in entities formed to invest in developing residential properties that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. This bill encourages the financing of affordable residential housing projects by increasing the investment limit, a news release from the Governor’s Office said.

Another measure, Senate Bill 865, now Act 97, will establish a 99-year leasehold program to develop low-cost homes on state- and county-owned land in an urban redevelopment site to be sold in leasehold by the Hawaii Community Development Authority to qualified residents. The bill will increase the number of affordable residential leasehold units in the state, the Governor’s Office said.

Other bills aim to help some of the state’s most vulnerable residents avoid homelessness or access low-income housing.

Senate Bill 898, now Act 98, temporarily expands the State Rent Supplement Program specifically for qualified persons who are 62 or older and are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Funding from the program will help eligible families by subsidizing part of their monthly rent.

House Bill 674, now Act 99, repeals the percentage requirements related to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s admission of applicants into federal and state low-income public housing units. This gives the agency the ability to prioritize its public housing inventory to allow greater preference for those who are the most in need, including families and individuals experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic violence and those who are displaced.

“This was a monumental year in making significant progress toward addressing the affordable housing crisis in Hawai’i,” said Central Maui state Rep. Troy Hashimoto, who chairs the House Committee on Housing. “We are immensely proud of our focused efforts in providing housing relief to those who need it the most. Our continual priority has been to address the needs of asset-limited, low-income families, renters, Native Hawaiians and our kupuna population.”

Other bills include:

• SB 1357, now Act 90, which extends the sunset dates for issuing county affordable housing credits to the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to July 1, 2030.

• HB 675, now Act 91, which requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to open at least two periods each year to take applications for financing for the development of affordable housing.

• HB 677, now Act 92, which authorizes HHFDC to establish a five-year Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund equity pilot program using $10 million in existing funds.

• HB 992, now Act 93, which ensures certain funds are deposited into the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund.

• HB 1366, now Act 94, which requires the creation of a three-year pilot program to help eligible homeless individuals reunite with their families in their home states.

• HB 1397, now Act 95, which establishes a supportive housing pilot program.

Green signs bills on affordable housing, reducing homelessness