Bill Text: HI SB2224 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 2224 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Housing.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-24 - Referred to HMS/HOU, WAM. [SB2224 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-SB2224-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2224
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to Housing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 356D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part . HOUSING FOR TRANSITION AGED YOUTH

§356D- Definitions. As used in this part:

"Current or former foster youth" means youth under twenty-six years of age who are currently or were formerly removed from their home pursuant to chapter 587A or section 571-48.

"Eligible activities" includes funding capital development programs, such as acquisition, leasing, construction, and rehabilitation sites for emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for transition aged youth; or capital development loans for the conversion of emergency shelter or transitional housing to permanent supportive housing for transition aged youth.

"Eligible organization" means an agency of local government or a nonprofit corporation that provides, or contracts with community organizations to provide, emergency shelter or transitional housing, or both.

"Homeless youth" means an unaccompanied youth between twelve and twenty-four years of age, inclusive, who is experiencing homelessness, as defined in subsection (2) of Section 725 of the United States McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987.

"Nonprofit corporation" means a corporate entity that is registered with the State and has received a written determination from the Internal Revenue Service that it is exempt under either section 501(c)(3), section 501(c)(4), or so much of section 501(c)(2) as applied to title holding entities that turn over their income to organizations that are exempt under either section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

"Transition aged youth" means current or former foster youth, or homeless youth.

§356D- Transition aged youth housing special fund. (a) There is established in the state treasury the transition aged youth housing special fund into which shall be deposited appropriations made by the legislature to the fund.

(b) Moneys from the transition aged youth housing special fund shall be used for the purpose of creating housing for youth under twenty-six years of age who have been removed from their homes or are experiencing homelessness unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

(1) The authority makes at least 47.5 per cent of the funds available to eligible organizations for projects to house current foster youth between eighteen and twenty-one years of age, inclusive. If the authority is unable to comply with this paragraph due to a lack of applications, it may spend the remaining funds pursuant to paragraph (2);

(2) Not more than five per cent of available funds shall be expended on program administration, including state operations expenditures and technical assistance; and

(3) The remaining available funds not subject to paragraph (1) or (2) are made available to eligible organizations for eligible activities consistent with this section.

(d) The authority shall disburse grant funds as promptly as possible.

§356D- Grants; loans. (a) The authority shall award grants to eligible organizations for the development of housing for transition aged youth.

(b) The authority shall distribute funds for eligible activities as grants in the form of forgivable deferred loans

(c) Funding shall be made available to each project granted to an eligible organization as a loan with a term of five years for rehabilitation, seven years for substantial rehabilitation, ten years for acquisition and rehabilitation or new construction, or twenty years for conversion to permanent supportive housing for transition age youth.

(d) Each deferred loan shall be secured by a deed of trust and promissory note.

(e) Repayment of the loan shall be deferred if the project is used as an emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, or transitional housing for transition aged youth.

(f) The loan shall be forgiven at the completion of the specified year term.

(g) If a transfer or conveyance of the project property occurs before the authority forgives the loan, and the transfer or conveyance results in the property no longer being an emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, or transitional housing for transition aged youth, the authority shall terminate the grant and require the repayment of the deferred loan in full.

(h) A project may opt for the authority to not forgive the loan.

§356D- Criteria; evaluation. (a) The authority shall develop and set forth the criteria for evaluating applications in a notice of funding availability.

(b) The authority shall award grants to applicants that best meet the criteria; provided that no grants made pursuant to this chapter shall be awarded for projects, development, or other similar activities that take place on ceded lands.

(c) The authority shall give preference to applications from organizations that have experience providing direct services to transition aged youth and organizations working in partnership with those that provide direct services to transition aged youth.

(d) The authority shall specify the minimum and maximum grant award amount in the notice of funding availability.

(e) The authority's decision to approve or deny an application and the determination of the amount of funding to be provided shall be final.

(f) The authority shall maintain and make available to the public the following:

(1) The number of applications for the program funding received by the authority;

(2) The number of applicants for the program funding denied by the authority;

(3) The name of each recipient of program funds and any subrecipients; and

(4) The number of new and converted units created for transition aged youth, by year.

§356D- Recipients. (a) Grants awarded by the authority shall be used by the grant recipient to defray costs of eligible activities.

(b) Grant awards for projects that have not begun construction within twelve months of the award shall be terminated and the authority shall reallocate the funds. The authority may extend the twelve-month period by an additional period of no more than twelve months.

(c) An applicant that receives funds pursuant to this section shall provide the authority with a list of all subrecipients.

§356D- Consultation. The authority shall consult with the office of youth services on all matters concerning transition aged youth."

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general fund the sum of $50,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 to be deposited into the transition aged youth housing special fund.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Housing; Homelessness; Transition Aged Youth; Housing Fund; Appropriation

Description:

Creates the transition aged youth housing special fund to provide homes for youth ages twelve through twenty-six who face homelessness. Appropriates funds.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.