A half-dozen affordable housing bills have emerged from conference committees in the state Legislature and are one step away from becoming law.
Seven bills that will go before Gov. David Ige for his final consideration would appropriate nearly $1 billion for various housing programs, establish legal protections for low-income renters, provide additional resources for struggling families, and more.
The bulk of the funds appropriated are encapsulated in two bills, one of which, House Bill 2511, allocates $600 million to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to develop housing for the department’s beneficiaries. The other, Senate Bill 3048, allocates $300 million into the state’s Housing Revolving Fund, half of which is to be used for developing rental projects for a variety of income levels throughout the state.
“The affordable housing bills passed this year will help struggling families in Hawaii,” said Oahu Rep. and House Finance Committee Chair Sylvia Luke in a statement. “Unprecedented funding … will result in new rental and for-sale affordable housing throughout our state.”
Hamakua and Hilo Rep. Mark Nakashima said in a statement that the $600 million for DHHL will help address the 28,000 beneficiaries on the department’s waitlist, adding that the bill also will provide mortgage and rental assistance to beneficiaries, a first for the department.
Other bills provide additional support for struggling renters. Through House Bill 2233, certain families will be eligible for $500 a month in rental assistance.
According to the bill, eligible households will include those receiving benefits through a pair of programs: the federally funded Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and the state-funded Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families program. Only households receiving benefits through both programs — an estimated 4,000 families — would be eligible.
Yet another bill, HB 2512, extends the state’s Ohana Zone program — which provides homeless people with access to vital services and housing — another six years and appropriates $15 million to the program.
And House Bill 1752 allocates $1.5 million for incentives for landlords to participate in the Tenant-Based Assistance Housing Choice Voucher Program — in particular, landlords participating in the program would receive up to one month of rent when an eligible property is vacant or when taking in their first tenant under the Section 8 program.
Senate Bill 206 legally prohibits rental discrimination based on income sources. Under the bill, it would be illegal for landlords to refuse a prospective tenant purely because the tenant is a Section 8 beneficiary.
Lastly, HB 1837 would create an affordable housing working group.
In addition, the House’s budget bill includes a $20 million appropriation for developing affordable housing infrastructure.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.