Committees approve HB 1975 to make Kupuna rent supplement permanent, supporters cite $500 subsidy impact

Senate joint committees voted on March 19 to pass HB 1975 HD1, a measure to repeal the sunset for the state rent-supplement program for kupuna, appropriate funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) and add positions to administer the program.

Betty Lou Larson of Catholic Charities Hawaii testified that the organization counsels seniors on housing and that increasing rents are pushing more seniors into precarity. Larson described a client who was able to keep housing during a year of surgeries because of a $500 monthly subsidy, saying that the subsidy “made him able to stay there [and] not become homeless.” She urged lawmakers to make the rental assistance permanent and to provide staff capacity in HPHA to administer the program.

Other organizations listed support included AARP Hawaii, Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, Leading Age Pacific West, and several county and local leaders. Following a short recess for decision making, the committees voted to pass HB 1975 with amendments to fix position counts and dates; the recommendation was adopted by the Senate committees present.

The committees did not set an implementation timetable in the hearing; they noted administrative corrections to position counts and adjusted statutory dates during the amendment process.