Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Housing Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill clarifying Hawaii Public Housing Authority powers as federal guidance shifts
Summary
Lawmakers moved forward House Bill 1093 to align Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) definitions of housing projects with recent session law and to give the agency tools to respond quickly to federal HUD priorities. HPHA urged urgency amid reports HUD may reprioritize public housing.
The House Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs voted to advance a bill clarifying and aligning the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s statutory powers and the definitions it uses to plan and rebuild public housing.
Hakim Wansafi, HPHA executive director, told the committee HB1093 updates definitions of housing projects to match 2022 session law and give the authority tools to “deconcentrate poverty” by rebuilding mixed-income communities rather than concentrating public housing in one area. Wansafi said the measure has taken on urgency after recent communications he described as HUD “priorities,” which he summarized as including actions such as eliminating public housing, enacting term limits for assistance, and implementing work requirements — items HPHA has noticed in communications from some field offices.
Wansafi said HPHA is preparing options and asked for the committee’s support so the agency has legal tools to respond quickly should HUD implement changes to funding or program rules. Committee members asked whether HPHA would immediately comply with a federal directive; Wansafi said the agency was preparing scenarios and tools, but could not publicly commit to specific actions while guidance remained uncertain. Wansafi said HHPA would share information with the committee as it becomes available.
Committee members voted to move HB1093 forward as recommended by the chair.
