HB 1397 Summary

• Establishes a supportive housing pilot program within the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to provide affordable, permanent housing and services for individuals and families with special needs, including chronically homeless persons, individuals with disabilities, emancipated foster youth, and others.

• Designates the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to develop rental housing projects with units targeted to special needs individuals with household incomes at or below 30 percent of area median income, and exempts the corporation from Chapter 91, HRS in establishing qualification criteria.

• Directs the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to implement project-based rent supplement payments to maintain affordable rental rates, with exemptions from Chapter 103D, HRS in selecting a qualified nonprofit organization to administer payments.

• Authorizes the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to administer supportive services funding not to exceed $800 per unit per month, including mental health, substance abuse, and employment services, with exemptions from Chapters 103D and 103F, HRS in selecting service providers.

• Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2023-2024 for housing development, rent supplement contracts, supportive services, and development of a data collection information system, with joint interim and final reports required to the legislature by December 1, 2024 and 2025.