Haw. Code R. § 17-2028-2

Current through April, 2024
Section 17-2028-2 - Definitions

Whenever used in this chapter, unless specifically defined:

"Accessible dwelling unit" means a dwelling unit that is located on an accessible route and when designed, constructed, altered, or adapted can be approached, entered, and used by individuals with physical disabilities or a dwelling unit being made accessible as a result of alterations and is intended for use by a specific qualified individual with disabilities which meets the requirements of applicable standards that address the particular disability or impairment of an individual.

"Adjusted income" means "annual income" of the members of the family residing or intending to reside in the dwelling unit minus any HUD allowable expenses and deductions as defined in 24 C.F.R. § 5.611 as it existed on March 28, 2013.

"Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy" or "ACOP" means these administrative rules and other administrative rules containing the policies by which the authority determines eligibility for admission, prospective tenant selection, dwelling unit assignment, fair and nondiscriminatory transfers, rental agreement terminations, pet policies, and other property-specific guidelines that a public housing authority is required to adopt pursuant to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development federal public housing regulations in 24 C.F.R. Chapter IX.

"Annual income" means the gross amount of income anticipated to be received by the family during the twelve months after admission or reexamination. Gross income is the amount of income prior to any HUD allowable expenses or deductions, and does not include income which has been excluded by HUD, as defined in 24 C.F.R. § 5.609 as it existed on March 28, 2013.

"Applicant" means an individual or family that submits an application for admission to the program but is not yet a participant in the program.

"Assets" or "net family assets" means net cash value after deducting reasonable costs that would be incurred in disposing of real property, savings, stocks, bonds, and other forms of capital investment as defined in 24 C.F.R. § 5.603 as it existed on October 20, 2022, and excludes the value of necessary items of personal property such as furniture and automobiles.

"Assisted housing" means the same as "federally-assisted housing".

"Authority" means the Hawaii public housing authority.

"Back charge" means the amount of arrears in rent or other charges owed to the authority.

"C.F.R." means the United States Code of Federal Regulations.

"Child" means a person who is born alive and is less than eighteen years of age.

"Common areas" means areas which are available for use by more than one household, including lobbies, corridors, hallways, stairways, parking lots, spots, ramps, washing machine or laundry room, rooftops, elevators, washrooms and lobby areas, driveways, storerooms, fire escapes, entrances and exits of the building or buildings, basements, yards, gardens, recreational facilities, other parts of the project in common use or other areas designated by the authority, and shared ventilation ducts that service more than one dwelling unit.

"Community facilities" means real and personal property; buildings, equipment, lands, and grounds for recreational or social assemblies, and for educational, health, or welfare purposes; and necessary or convenient utilities, when designed primarily for the benefit and use of the authority or the occupants of the dwelling units.

"Community service" means the performance of voluntary work or duties that are a public benefit and that serve to improve the quality of life, enhance resident self-sufficiency, or increase resident self-responsibility in the community. Community service is not employment and may not include political activities.

"Community wide" means inclusive of any location that is under the jurisdiction of the authority. "Continuously assisted" means that the applicant is currently receiving assistance under any program of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, and there is no break in assistance to the family.

"Covered families" means families who receive welfare assistance or other public assistance benefits ("welfare benefits") from a State or other public agency ("welfare agency") under a program for which federal, State, or local law requires that a member of the family must participate in an economic self-sufficiency program as a condition for such assistance.

"Criminal activity" means the tenant, any member of the tenant's household, a guest or another person under the tenant's control has engaged in any conduct constituting a criminal violation of federal law, HRS, or local ordinances regardless of whether there has been an arrest or conviction for such activity and without satisfying the standard of proof used for a criminal conviction.

"Designated housing" or "designated project" means a property (or properties), or a portion thereof that has been designated for occupancy by disabled families, elderly families, or mixed populations of disabled families and elderly families.

"Disabled family" means a family whose head, spouse, or sole member is a person with disabilities; or two or more persons with disabilities living together; or one or more persons with disabilities living with one or more live-in aides.

"Domestic violence" means the actual or threatened physical violence directed against a family member by a spouse, former spouse, or other member of the family who is living or has lived with the family.

"Drug" means a controlled substance as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 802) as it existed on October 20, 2022.

"Drug related criminal activity" means the illegal manufacture, sale, distribution, or use of a drug, or possession of a drug with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute, or use the drug.

"Dwelling unit" means a residential unit in a public housing project.

"Economic self-sufficiency program" means any program designed to encourage, assist, train, or facilitate the economic independence of HUD-assisted families or to provide work for such families.

"Elderly" or "elderly family" means a family whose head, spouse, or sole member is a person who is at least sixty-two years of age; or two or more persons who are at least sixty-two years of age living together; or one or more persons who are at least sixty-two years of age living with one or more live-in aides.

"Eligible family" means a family that meets the qualifications and requirements of the program for admission into federally-assisted public housing.

"Enclosed or partially enclosed" means closed in by a roof or overhang and at least one wall. Enclosed or partially enclosed areas include but are not limited to areas commonly described as public lobbies, lanais, interior courtyards, patios, and covered walkways.

"Exempt individual" means an individual who is exempt from complying with community service or self-sufficiency activities and which is further defined in 24 C.F.R. § 960.601(b) as it existed on October 20, 2022.

"Extremely low-income family" means a family whose annual income does not exceed thirty per cent of the median income for the area, as determined by HUD with adjustments for smaller and larger families, except that HUD may establish income ceilings higher or lower than thirty per cent of the median income for the area if HUD finds that such variations are necessary because of unusually high or low family incomes.

"Family" means regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status:

(1) Two or more persons who live or intend to live together as a unit and whose income and resources are available to meet the family's needs and whose head of family has reached the age of majority. A child who is temporarily away from the home because of placement in foster care is considered a member of the family. Family may include foster children and hanai children or a child who is domiciled with, and for whom an adult member of the current household is caring for with written or unwritten permission from the legal parent or other person having legal custody, or child domiciled with, and for whom an adult member of the current household is in the process of securing custody;
(2) An elderly family;
(3) A disabled family;
(4) A displaced family;
(5) The remaining member of a tenant family who is recorded as an authorized occupant on the current list of household members and who has reached the age of majority; or
(6) A single person who is not may be an elderly or displaced person, or a person with disabilities, or the remaining member of a tenant family.

"Family self-sufficiency program" or "FSS program" means the program established by the authority in accordance with 24 C.F.R. Part 984 to promote self-sufficiency of assisted families, including the coordination of supportive services.

"Federally-assisted housing" means housing assisted under any of the following HUD programs:

(1) Public housing;
(2) Housing receiving project-based or tenant-based assistance under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. § 1437f) as it existed on October 20, 2022;
(3) Housing that is assisted under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959, as amended by section 801 of the National Affordable Housing Act (12 U.S.C. § 1701q) as it existed on October 20, 2022;
(4) Housing that is assisted under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959, as such section existed before the enactment of the National Affordable Housing Act as it existed on October 20, 2022;
(5) Housing that is assisted under section 811 of the National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 8013) as it existed on October 20, 2022;
(6) Housing financed by a loan or mortgage insured under section 221(d)(3) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. § 17151(d)(3)) that bears interest at a rate determined under the proviso of section 221(d)(5) of such Act (12 U.S.C. § 17151 (d)(5)) as it existed on October 20, 2022;
(7) Housing insured, assisted, or held by HUD or by a State or local agency under section 236 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. § 1715z -l) as it existed on October 20, 2022; or
(8) Housing assisted by the Rural Development Administration under section 514 or section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. §§ 1483, 1484) as it existed on October 20, 2022.

"Foster children" means a person or persons, under eighteen years of age who is or are not related to the foster parent by blood, marriage, or adoption and who is or are in need of parenting care.

"Foster parent" means any adult person who gives parenting care and maintenance to a foster child pursuant to placement by an authorized agency.

"Gender identity" means actual or perceived gender-related characteristics.

"Hanai child" or "Hanai children" means a child who is taken permanently to reside, be educated, and reared by someone other than the natural parents, traditionally a grandparent or other relative, with the written or unwritten permission of the natural parents.

"Household" means the family and the authority-approved live-in aide.

"HRS" means the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

"HUD" means the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"Imputed welfare income" means the amount of annual income not actually received by a family, as a result of a specified welfare benefit reduction, that is nonetheless included in the family's annual income for purposes of determining rent.

"Individual relief" means relief from surcharges for excess consumption of agency purchased utilities due to special factors affecting utility usage not within the control of the resident, as the agency shall deem appropriate.

"Involuntarily displaced" means an applicant who has vacated or will have to vacate the dwelling unit where the applicant lives because of one or more of the following:

(1) Displacement by disaster;
(2) Displacement by governmental action; or
(3) Displacement by action of housing owner for reasons beyond the applicant's control and despite the applicant meeting all previously imposed conditions of occupancy. The action taken by the owner shall be for reasons other than an increase in rent.

"Live-in aide" means a person who resides with one or more elderly persons, or near elderly persons, or persons with disabilities, and who:

(1) Is eighteen years of age or older;
(2) Is determined by the authority to be essential to the care and well-being of the elder or elderly family member or the family member with disabilities;
(3) Is not obligated for the support of the elder or the elderly family member or family member with disabilities;
(4) Would not be living in the dwelling unit except to provide the necessary support services;
(5) Is not a tenant; and
(6) Notwithstanding any other rule, has no rights of tenancy, continued occupancy of dwelling unit, and is not a remaining member of the household and shall cease to be an occupant therein upon the recovery of the dwelling unit by the authority, or removal from the project of the elder or elderly family member or a family member with disabilities who required the live-in aide.

"Location" means any site comprising a common geographic area undivided by natural or man-made barriers (such as rivers, highways, railroads, or other major obstructions) that block or impede normal pedestrian traffic and which may contain more than one project.

"Low-income family" means a family whose annual income does not exceed eighty per cent of the median income for the area, as determined by HUD with adjustments for smaller and larger families, except that HUD may establish income ceilings higher or lower than eighty per cent of the median income for the area if HUD finds that such variations are necessary because of unusually high or low family incomes.

"Multifamily dwelling" means a building containing more than two dwelling units.

"Near elderly family" means a family whose head, spouse, or sole member is at least fifty years of age but below the age of sixty-two, or two or more persons, who are at least fifty years of age but below the age of sixty-two, living with one or more live-in aides.

"PHA plan" means the authority's public housing agency plan that is prepared pursuant to 24 C.F.R. Part 903.

"Projects" means those rental properties owned or operated by the authority.

"Public housing" or "federally-assisted public housing" means housing assisted under the United States Housing Act of 1937, other than under Section 8 of that Act, and includes dwelling units in a mixed finance project that are assisted by the authority with capital or operating assistance.

"Police officer" means a person determined by the authority to be, during the period of residence of that person in public housing, employed on a full-time basis as a duly licensed professional police officer by a federal, State, or local government or by any agency of these governments.

"Refusal of an offer" means an applicant declines an offer made by the authority for a specific dwelling unit from any waiting list or an applicant's failure to respond to a written offer from the authority for a specific dwelling unit within the time specified in the offer.

"Rental agreement" means the agreement or contract containing the terms and conditions of occupancy of a dwelling unit entered into by the tenant and authority.

"Resident" means a United States citizen or national, or an eligible immigrant under one of the categories set forth in 42 U.S.C. § 1436a(a) (also known as "noncitizen") who is able to demonstrate his or her intent to reside in Hawaii. Under one of these categories, an eligible immigrant is an alien who is lawfully residing in the United States and its territories and possessions under section 141 of the Compacts of Free Association between the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federal States of Micronesia (48 U.S.C. 18901 note), and the Republic of Palau (48 U.S.C. 1931 note) while the applicable section is in effect, also known as "COFA" resident. Intent to reside in Hawaii may be demonstrated by the following: length of time spent in Hawaii; leasing or renting of a home in Hawaii; filing of personal Hawaii income tax returns; registering to vote in Hawaii; Hawaii driver's license; record of Hawaii motor vehicle registration; notification of hire to work in Hawaii; records of employment in Hawaii; military records substantiating Hawaii residency; enrollment of minor children in Hawaii schools; establishment of bank accounts and other accounts in Hawaii; written reference from Hawaii residents, relatives, or social agencies; and any other indicia which could substantiate a claim of an intent to reside in Hawaii.

"Security deposit" means a monetary deposit required prior to admission to federally-assisted public housing or use of community facilities that is applied against the cost of loss or damage to the authority's property (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and non-payment of rent.

"Serviceman" means a person active in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard of the United States, and since July 29, 1945, the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service who has served therein at any time:

(1) On or after April 6, 1917, and prior to November 11, 1918;
(2) On or after September 16, 1940, and prior to July 26, 1947;
(3) On or after June 27, 1950, and prior to February 1, 1955; or
(4) On or after August 6, 1964 and prior to May 7, 1975.

"Sexual orientation" means having a preference for homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality, having a history of any one or more of these preferences, having a history of any one or more of these preferences, or being identified with any one or more of these preferences. Sexual orientation shall not be construed to protect conduct otherwise proscribed by law.

"Smoke" or 'smoking" means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted smoking or heated tobacco product or plant product intended for inhalation in any manner or in any form, including electronic smoking devices.

"Spouse" means the marriage partner of the head of household.

"Staff" means the employees or authorized contractors of the authority.

"Tenant" means the person or persons who enter into a rental agreement with the authority to reside in a dwelling unit.

"U.S.C." means the United States Code.

"Utility allowance" means the value of utilities such as electricity, gas, and water costs that are included in the gross rent of the tenant. This does not include telephone or cable television services.

"Utility reimbursement" means the amount, if any, by which the utility allowance for the dwelling unit exceeds the total tenant payment of the family occupying the dwelling unit.

"Very low-income family" means a family whose annual income does not exceed fifty per cent of the median income for the area, as determined by HUD with adjustments for smaller and larger families, except that HUD may establish income ceilings higher or lower than fifty per cent of the median income for the area if HUD finds that such variations are necessary because of unusually high or low family incomes.

"Veteran" means any person who served in the military or naval forces of the United States who has been discharged or released from active service under conditions other than dishonorable.

"Violent criminal activity" means any criminal activity that has as one of its elements the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force substantial enough to cause, or be reasonably likely to cause, serious bodily injury or property damage.

Haw. Code R. § 17-2028-2

[Eff 7/21/05; am and comp 9/4/07; am and comp MAY 24 2014 ] (Auth: HRS §§ 356D-4, 356D-13) (Imp: 24 C.F.R. Parts 5, 903, 960, 965, 966; HRS §§ 356D-4, 356D-13)
Comp 1/20/2019
Am and comp 2/17/2022
Am and comp 12/31/2022; comp 11/11/2023