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COUNTY OF HAWAIII STATE OF AI`I RESOLUTION NO. 431 20 A RESOLUTION DIRECTING HAWAII COUNTY TO STRATEGICALLY ADDRESS ITS ESCALATING HOUSING CRISIS WITH URGENCY. WHEREAS, a 2015 report by the State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism titled"Measuring Housing Demand in Hawaii, 2015-2025"projected that HawaiiCounty's population will grow by 29 percent by 2025, creating a forecasted demand for 19,610 additional housing units,which is approximately 30 percent of the total projected demand of 64,700 (conservative baseline scenario)housing units needed across the State; and WHEREAS, a 2017 report by Aloha United Way titled"ALICE: A Study of Financial Hardship in Hawaii"notes that 62 percent of all jobs in Hawaii pay less than$20 per hour, with more than two-thirds of those paying less than$15 per hour for an estimated gross of$30,000 per year for a full-time job; and WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2017,households in Hawaii County had a median income of$56,395; and WHEREAS, according to Zillow, an online real estate database company, the current median price of homes is $649,900 in Kailua-Kona, $389,000 in Hilo, $199,085 in Pdhoa, and $400,000 for Hawaii County as a whole; and WHEREAS,the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines an"affordable dwelling" as one that a household can obtain for 30 percent or less of its income; and WHEREAS, providing more housing options is essential to meeting the diverse lifestyles and affordability levels that are critical to attract, retain, and develop a diverse workforce pool as well as meet the needs of our elderly and vulnerable populations, low-income, and families and individuals experiencing homelessness; and WHEREAS, Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) to develop or assist in the development of housing projects that qualify for certain exemptions pursuant to Section 201H-38, and to request expedited processing, a developer must submit the HHFDCs 20 1 H application form, which is accepted and processed by each county; and WHEREAS, Chapter 11, Section 11-3, of the Hawaii County Code states that the Office of Housing and Community Development(OHCD) is responsible for the planning, administration, and operation of all of the County's housing programs with the goal of providing for the development of viable communities in Hawaii County by providing decent housing, suitable living environments, and the expansion of economic opportunities; and