H.B. 1567 - Hale Kokua Project

• Establishes a 15-year "Hale Kokua Project" within the Department of Human Services to incentivize private property owners in Honolulu to provide rental housing to homeless individuals and families through state grants and monthly rent subsidies.

• Limits participation to a maximum of 10 property owners per census tract and prioritizes placement of homeless families living in public areas (parks, streets, cars, campgrounds).

• Creates a Homeless Housing Assistance Coordinating Committee with 11 members including the Director of Human Services and representatives from state agencies, homeless populations, and all four counties to advise the project coordinator.

• Increases conveyance tax rates by 5 cents per $100 across all property value categories and allocates a percentage of conveyance tax revenue to the new Hale Kokua Special Fund to support project incentives and administration.

• Provides property owner incentives including state construction grants, monthly rent subsidies, property tax waivers, and zoning/building code exemptions; requires participating owners to commit rental units for a specified period or repay grants within 90 days of withdrawal.