04/18/2024 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

        SCR  3-HOUSING SHORTAGE;PUBLIC-PRIV. PARTNERSHIP                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:44:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  KAWASAKI   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.  3 Recognizing                                                               
the  shortage  of  affordable housing  available  in  the  state;                                                               
supporting public- private partnerships  that maximize the impact                                                               
of  public  funding; and  urging  the  state to  support  Housing                                                               
Alaskans.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:44:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SCR 3.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:44:53 PM                                                                                                                    
SHAUNA HEGNA, representing self,  Anchorage, Alaska, testified in                                                               
support of SCR 3. She said  she is the chair of Housing Alaskans.                                                               
She stated  that Alaska's  critical housing  shortage has  led to                                                               
economic investment  and development  struggles around  the state                                                               
and created  a crisis  in public  safety, health,  and education.                                                               
She highlighted  that in  her home region  of Kodiak,  the school                                                               
district, Fire and Police  Departments, healthcare providers, and                                                               
private business  owners have all reported  difficulty attracting                                                               
and retaining  talented workers due  to the lack of  available or                                                               
affordable  housing. This  shortage is  impacting the  safety and                                                               
well-being of  the community. Housing Alaskans,  a public-private                                                               
partnership,   has  proven   effective   in  addressing   housing                                                               
shortages by pairing public funding with private donations.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS.  HEGNA said  that last  year,  Housing Alaskans  was able  to                                                               
leverage  state  funding and  private  donations  to provide  gap                                                               
funding for  over 80 Alaskan families,  both on and off  the road                                                               
system. Additionally, the organization  partnered with the Alaska                                                               
Municipal League  to fund  a housing track  at the  annual Alaska                                                               
Infrastructure Symposium,  where subject matter  experts provided                                                               
technical  assistance to  local governments  across the  state to                                                               
help them  address their housing  needs. This track was  the best                                                               
attended  of the  entire  conference,  underscoring the  priority                                                               
local  governments place  on the  housing crisis.  She asked  for                                                               
continued support to address the housing shortage through SCR 3.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:47:45 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  FORREST DUNBAR,  District J,  Alaska State  Legislature,                                                               
Juneau,  Alaska, sponsor  of  SCR  3. He  noted  that  SCR 3  was                                                               
introduced at  the end of the  last session or the  first half of                                                               
the  session,  and  that  they have  been  working  with  Housing                                                               
Alaskans and other  partners on this issue.  He acknowledged that                                                               
many on the  panel and in the committee are  aware of the housing                                                               
shortage. He  also pointed out  that the capital budget  voted on                                                               
last  week   included  $6  million   for  the   Housing  Alaskans                                                               
partnership,  which he  was very  excited about.  He viewed  this                                                               
resolution as  a companion to  that investment, noting  that with                                                               
$1 million, Housing  Alaskans had helped tip  about eight housing                                                               
projects  into  economic  viability and  construction  just  last                                                               
year.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:48:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:48:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MERRICK  moved to report  SCR 3, work  order 33-LS0798\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:49:06 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  KAWASAKI found  no objection  and  SCR 3,  work order  33-                                                               
LS0798\A  was reported  from the  Senate  State Affairs  Standing                                                               
Committee.