Lawmakers agree on the need to address Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis—but not on how

The rental assistance provision, meanwhile, has passed through the House and one Senate committee largely intact. Its last hurdle is the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

House Bill 1054 proposes to create a rental deposit loan program providing no-interest loans up to $2,500 for people who need help paying security deposits. The loans would have to be paid back within four years and would be available for individuals earning approximately $73,000 to $95,000 annually and families of four earning $104,000 to $135,000.

The bill has received support from a variety of organizations and individuals, including the AARP, Hawaii Realtors, Maui Chamber of Commerce and Will Caron, a progressive activist who often works on housing equity issues.

But not all are convinced that a security deposit loan fund program is the answer. For example, Deja Ostrowski, a lecturer in affordable housing law at the University of Hawaiʻi’s William S. Richardson School of Law, questioned the practicality of setting up a new program when existing organizations already have the capacity to use the money to help people.

“I love it in concept; in theory, I love the idea,” she said. “But I have concerns about the administrative burden and cost.”