2018 Annual Community Assessment Report

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Jt' i The County is well within its rights to assign CDBG-DR management to whatever Office it chooses and should assign CDBG-DR administration to the Office that the County plans to have implement the program. However, misrepresentation to work around a regulation or gain a favorable recommendation is a problem. The County's otherwise successful implementation of its regular HUD funded programs by OHCD is directly impacted by the actions of internal County influences and conflicts. As a result, HUD must question information presented by the County and identify the County as a High-Risk grantee. HOME and HTF The State has the primary reporting responsibility for the HOME and HTF programs. HUD will review the State's CAPER as the official report but commends the County for including data in its CAPER to inform its citizens about HOME- and HTF-funded projects. HUD encourages the County to seek leveraging of other federal, state,and private resources to supplement its HOME allocations to further develop affordable rental housing in the county of Hawaii. Continuum of Care During PY 18, the County has partnered with non-profit organizations and other government agencies to help individuals and families from becoming homeless. It participates in various community events where it provides information about homeless services and resources available to the community. The Kilauea Eruptions of 2018 placed over 600 individuals into temporary disaster shelters. Under proclamations issued by the Governor and the Mayor of Hawaii County, non- profit agencies built a total of 30 emergency shelter units, providing preference to individuals and families who were impacted by the Kilauea Eruptions. The shelter also provided case management services, referring program participants to appropriate permanent housing options. HOPE Services Hawaii, Inc. (HOPE)was the key provider in assisting the homeless in the county. HOPE provided outreach to 391 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Those encountered were provided with necessities and were connected to various services and emergency shelter as needed. Along with other partners, HOPE provided outreach services, completed needs assessments,and connected families to financial and housing resources within and/or outside the county's jurisdiction. In FY18,the County notes several accomplishments, including the use of State funding to open its first Family Assessment.Center in Hawaiian Paradise Park, and the completion and implementation of its Coordinated Entry System(CES) which will facilitate the coordination and management of resources and services to effectively connect people to interventions that aim to rapidly resolve their housing crisis. HUD,however, would like to provide input on the effectiveness of the CES in the County. HUD recently conducted on-site monitoring of a CoC grantee receiving HUD funding. The monitoring review revealed weaknesses in the CES process. In the case of Hawaii County, homeless placements were delayed because of a single ;tip