HI SB1395

Appropriates funds from general revenues for the State Rent Supplement Program for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, with the specific dollar amount left blank in the bill text.

Establishes that appropriated funds will be expended by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to support the rent supplement program under Hawaii Revised Statutes section 356D-151.

Identifies Hawaii as having the highest per capita homelessness rate and chronically unsheltered homeless population of any state, with an estimated 6,530 people experiencing homelessness.

Describes the state rent supplement program as providing "shallow" sustained subsidies to help households with narrow affordability gaps, unlike the deeper subsidies of Section 8 housing vouchers, enabling homeless or at-risk individuals and families to achieve housing stability and self-sufficiency.

Sets the effective date of the act as July 2, 2050.