HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0989.136 2018-2020 i
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From: Kaikea Blakemore I
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2020 11:16 AM COUNTY CLERK i
To: Council Testimony COUNTY OF HAWAII
Subject: Testimony Bill 779 RECEIVED
Time pry gY
Date AUCs Q 4 2020
Mr.Aaron Chung,Chair
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Aloha Chair Chung,
For over a decade NPP has worked with a coalition of homeless and housing providers to
make sure we have housing for Hawai'i s families. The 2008 crash created economic
destabilization that exacerbated homelessness in Hawaii. In 2020, due to Covid layoffs �I
and evictions, we are likely to see a new wave in homelessness.
As of June, The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that close to 1 in 5 of Hawaii's households
have been unable to pay their housing payment or have "slight or no confidence that their
household can pay next month's rent or mortgage on time". Evictions can have long term
negative financial impacts on households and make it harder to rent in the future. Without
housing, it is hard to keep a job, get medical care, or keep children in school. Help us
prevent increases in homelessness for Big Island families and keiki by showing your
support for Bill 179, Appendix L, which allows Hawaii residents to purchase more
affordable factory built homes.
According to the Hawaii Housing Planning Study, Hawaii County will need 13,303 housing
units by 2025 to avoid a massive housing shortage. From the 2020 Point in Time count,
we know that at least 244 families with children are homeless on the Big Island. Of those,
145 have been given temporary shelter and another 85 remained unsheltered. The children
of homeless families are often disproportionately young — between the ages of 0-5. These
children need a safe and stable environment for healthy development — not the insecurity,
stress, and vulnerability of homelessness. Unfortunately, with the Federal eviction
moratorium expired, we expect family homelessness to increase without any new affordable
housing options.
We know that many Hawaii residents can barely afford rent let alone home ownership.
Please support Bill 179 Appendix L to make sure we see fewer families and children on the
streets. Bill 179 Appendix L will help ensure that families can find affordable housing and
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possibly even become first time home-owners. We can change the housing struggles in
Hawaii, but we must speak up now to support more affordable housing.
We cannot afford to let the cost of building traditional homes in Hawaii prevent our
communities from-addressing the homeless crisis. For several years concerned agencies
and individuals have worked to support more affordable housing options in Hawaii. Today,
an estimated 244 local Big Island families are homeless without adequate housing. Housing
should be a human right. When people must live on the street, their health and well-being
suffer.
We are asking you to consider preserving Amendment L. and to continue to support Bill 179
addressing housing in Hawaii. According to the Hawaii Housing Planning Study, Hawaii
County will need 13,303 units by 2025 to avoid a massive housing shortage. Please be
part of our community's solution to end homelessness in Hawaii County by supporting the
changes we need to get families off the street.
Thank you for supporting our community members who need your help the most
Mahalo for hearing our testimony,
K.aikea Kaleikini Blakemore
Community Development Specialist
Neighborhood Place of Puna
16-105 Opukahaia Street
Keaau, HI 96749
Office: 808-345-3915
Fax: 808-965-5109
A'ohe pz.i't.r ki'eki'e ke ho'a'o 'ia epIV.
No cliff is so tall it cannot be climbed.
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