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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0989.151 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF 1 RECKMD i ur Date 'I 7rkgl.i v e s e r v i c e S H a' W a, I I AUG 0 4 -- spirim',y 11ope, (""hang i i �11 Igilllgli 1111: Hearing: Bill 179 -in support Date: August 4, 2020 Aloha Honorable Council Chair Chung,Vice Chair Eoff,and council members: I am submitting testimony on behalf of HOPE Services Hawai i, a non-profit organization working to end homelessness in our community. We strongly sort Bill 179which would be the first of many steps to establish a comprehensive and efficient construction code, in order to encourage and facilitate construction of the affordable housing our island desperately needs. Further, we urge the council to reject Councilmember Poi.ndexter's proposed amendments to Sections 5-3-2 through 5-3-5 and 5A-3-22 of Bill 179, Draft 2, which would impose additional regulatory requirements on each Factory Built Home (FBH). While we appreciate Councih-riember Poindexter's consideration of safety and quality control, these proposed amendments are unnecessary and counterproductive, much like the recently discussed air conditioner regulation. The provisions of Appendix L for locally manufactured structures are currently more restrictive or involved than traditional permitting and inspection ! processes for site-built homes. In particular, we would like to express concern in the following areas addressed in these amendments. } Plans & Specifications I The proposed amendment would remove the requirements for plans and specifications for the FBH. This could help save time and cost, but how would one build something without any plans and specifications? How would the couT i plan on administering this?We are not explicitly against this suggested change,but would urge the council to clarif�T its intention, and explore the potential ramifications. Inspections The proposed amendment would require inspections of all FBHs during construction. Eveiv single FBH fabricated in this count�T will need to be inspected bjT our local inspectors during construction. This may slow down the process, which has the potential to add cost to the project. Additionally, it may end up being a full-time job for county inspectors. Is the county prepared to take on this additional burden and liability? Imagine if, as we hope, FBHs become a popular option by opening doors to those who had been previously priced out of homeownership. We therefore advise the counoT to either reject these proposed amendments or to seriously consider the unintended impacts:increasing time and cost, overwheli' ing the building permitting process, and taking On extra habilit�T. Regarding the need for the bill itself,we would like to draw your attention to this number: Half a million dollars. Comm. No. • JOIN OUR COMMUNITI' 91F&ncil Page 1/2 Ref. DateShz/= Hawaii 6sland Nniled Way OOC) Partner Agency HOPE SERVICES HAWAII,INC. HALE MALUHIA KIHEI PUA VETERAN HOUSING FRIENDLY PLACE WEST HAWAII EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATIVE EMERGENCY SHELTER EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAMS RESOURCE CENTER HOUSING PROGRAM OFFICE no UIuIani Street 11 Ka i`olani Street 2 West Ohea Street Pawai Place Pawai PIace 357 yVaianuenue Avenue 5 �' 1 74-5593 74'5593 Hilo,HI 96720 Hilo,HI 96720 Hilo,HI 96720 Kailu.a-Kona,HI 9674o Kailua-Kona,HI 9674o HI 96720 Hilo, phone:(8o8)443-4717 phone:(8o8)933-6053 hone: 808 86 8 hone: 8o8 6062 hone:(808)21 6o phone:(808)935-3050 P ( )934- 5 p ( )933- p 7-55 Eax:(808)935-3794 Fax:(8o8)934-7456 fax:(808)934-0904 fax:(8o8)934-8658 fax:(8o8)329-6219 fax:(8o8)327-2171 BC)ARD OFD1REC MRS President/Chair Vice Chair Secretary Directors Patrick Hurney EXECUTIVE L.EADERSHII' Dean Au Rev.Robert Stark,SSS Gwen DeCoito Anne Harpham Carol R.Ignacio Chief Executive Officer Treasurer Peter Hoffman Brandee I'vieninc) Charlene Iboshi i t it 1 , y) I n JJ � . . �t A a i 11� ...�d'v'e e r v i c e s H- a w a 111111 1 1 11�1M------- +o o e o e o o o e o• a ® � :o o i e MINIMUM Id IN "That's about how much it costs to purchase a home on Hawaii Island. Even before COVID-19, stagnant wages and skyrocketing housing costs meant that about Half*of*ot:tr_.islan(]. spent more than a third of their income on housing, according to the ALICE Report. What this means for us today is that most of our local people are one paycheck from destitution,and if we fail to intervene in a smart, strategic way, they will never become homeowners. The quickest way out of poverty is homeownership. We need to create more options for our people to purchase homes, and we need to ensure that they stay housed. There are two primary ways we can do this: by raising wages and by lowering housing costs. Right now,we have been presented with the opportunity to implement the latter, and to do so without creating an excessive burden On the county Or taxpayers. When we create options for more homeowners to stay housed, it frees inventory in our rental market for families overcoming homelessness. This is the same logic the county used when they allocated CARES Act funds for the Rent & Mortgage Assistance Fund--by keeping everyone housed! The Hawal`1 County Council has the ability to bring massive relief to our community--to people like "Jerry," the Kona father of three,who worked three jobs,but still couldn't make ends meet.Jerry's landlord threatened to evict him, and he was terrified that he and his children would end up on the streets. His story has a happy ending--he called HOPE Services, and we were able to help him VTith his rent. Biy isn' ut ths stort about HOPE Services. It's about the injustice of housing costs where people who work full time are struggling to provide for their families. Now,layer on COVID- 19's impact On Our community, and we are experiencing a dramatic increase in need, where our community relies on social services to fill the yap. This is an opportunity for the Council to take responsible action and support Bill 179. `l-ien we make modular housing a viable option,it means renewed hope for the young family who's been saving for a down payment, but can't keep up with skyrocketing prices. It means nonprofit organizations can purchase more permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities. And it means more options for people like Jerry, who struggle against a system that's forsaken the people whose hard work makes our island what it is. The time to change is NOW!! We've been far too long tolerating our affordable housing crisis! We have the momentum, we have the support, and we have the data. We cannot afford to keep an iron grip on affordable housing construction any longer. Therefore, I humbly ask you to show your support in Bill 179 and provide us with the tools we need to house every single Hawaii Island `ohana. Mahalo nLu for your consideration. 4 Brandee Merino, IVIA JOIN OUR COMMUNITI' OC) G Page 2/2 / Hawaii Oslancb 9Jniled Way Partner Agency mom HOPE SERVICES HAWAII,INC. HALE MALUHIA KIHEI PUA VETERAN HOUSING FRIENDLY PLACE WEST HAWAII EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE EMERGENCY SHELTER EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAMS RESOURCE CENTER HOUSING PROGRAM uo Ululani Street 115 Kapi`olani Street 21 West Ohea Street Pawai Place Pawai PIace 357�Vaianuenue Avenue 74-5593 74'5593 I-filo,HI 96720 Hilo,HI 96720 Hilo,HI 96720 Hilo,HI 96720 Kailu.a-Kona,HI 9674o Kailua-Kona,HI 96i4o phone:(808)443-4717 phone:(8o8)933-6053 phone:(8o8)934-8658 phone:(8o8)933-6062 phone:(808)217-556o phone:(808)935-3050 fax:(808)934-7456 fax:(808)934-0904 [ax:(8o8)935-3794 fax:(8o8)934-8658 fax:(8o8)329-6219 fax:(8o8)327-2171 h(-)ARD 0FD1REC R-)PvS President/Chair Vice Chair Secretary Directors Patrick Hurney EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Dean Au Rev.Robert Stark,SSS Gwen DeCoito Anne Harpham Carol R.Ignacio C11ief Executive Officer Treasurer Peter Hoffman Brandee IN/Ienino Charlene Iuoshi