HB 2409 Summary

• Establishes the "Hale Kokua Project," a five-year homeless assistance pilot program administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, initially limited to the City and County of Honolulu.

• Authorizes state grants and monthly rent subsidies to property owners who set aside existing rental units or construct new dwelling units to house homeless families and individuals for five-year periods.

• Limits participation to a maximum of ten property owners per census tract to prevent community burden from sudden influx of homeless tenants.

• Creates an 11-member Homeless Housing Assistance Coordinating Committee with representatives from state departments, counties, and the homeless population to advise the project coordinator.

• Requires interim reports to the legislature in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, and a final report by 2023 with recommendations for statewide implementation; project repeals July 1, 2023.