HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – SB591 which would allow the issuance of general obligation bonds for the construction and infrastructure development for affordable housing units is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at 2:55 p.m. in conference room 225 with the joint Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy (TRE) and Housing (HOU).

The bill proposes providing funding resources to state housing agencies and the developers and non-profits that they work with to address the shortage of affordable housing across the state. It also provides a financial mechanism to build affordable rental units as well as temporary transitional housing or homeless shelters.

“We need housing for our working class families and our residents who are low income,” said HOU Chair, Sen. Will Espero (Dist. 19 - ‘Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, ‘Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, portion of ‘Ewa Villages), who authored the bill. “We need to take care of their needs and this bill will allow them a chance to afford a place to live, sooner rather than later.”

To view all bills in the 2017 Legislative Session and the hearing schedule, visit www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

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