S.B. 1020 Summary

• Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for its Rent Supplement Program for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 (specific dollar amount not filled in the bill text).

• Designated funds must be used to assist families at imminent risk of homelessness due to domestic violence with obtaining and maintaining permanent housing.

• Addresses homelessness and affordable housing by providing long-term, shallow rent subsidies to vulnerable families, citing 2018 data showing 407 sheltered and unsheltered homeless families on Oahu including 899 homeless minor children.

• Recognizes rental subsidies as critical to addressing the root cause of homelessness: lack of affordable rentals and housing instability.

• Effective date is January 1, 2050.