HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0281.088 2020-2022 P/Cound
X1144
VIBRANT
HAWAII
August 17, 2021
Aloha Council Chair David,
I am submitting this testimony in support of Bill 44,without amendments.
Vibrant Hawaii began as a result of over 200 multi-sector stakeholders coming together from every
district of the island, united in their vision for a community in which everyone has a chance to thrive.
These stakeholders identified the shelter burden and housing shortage as major determinants that
are challenging Hawai'i Island residents ability to "Get Chance." For this reason,the Hawai'i Island
Housing Coalition was created. The Coalition's membership represents every district and sector of
Hawaii Island, and we are committed to ensuring our community has access to a spectrum of
housing options. Spoken best and most simply by our former Mayor, Billy Kenoi, "Everyone just
wants to know that they get chance, and they get choice."
In many reports including the Housing and Transportation Affordability Index', Hawai'i Housing
Planning Study",the National Association of Counties"', and the 2020 ALICE Report'v, data is provided
to validate what we already know: the families on Hawaii Island are struggling.
I urge you to provide our island residents with a pathway to having chance and choice by passing Bill
44 without any amendments that would trigger redundancies in the system, and cause further
burden in time and resources on the County, private partners, and ultimately on our community.
Many of my friends are leaving this month to take their children to colleges abroad. I wonder how
many of them will return.Valedictorians, innovators, community project coordinators. We need to
show our children that Hawaii Island can be a place to return to.A place where they will have
chance and choice.
Passing Bill 44 without amendments is a step in that direction.
With aloha,
J nice Ikeda
Executive Director,Vibrant Hawaii
https://htaindex.cnt.org/fact-sheets/?Iat=19.5429151&Ing=-155.6658568&focus=county&gid=2732#fs
https:/f dbedt.hawaii.gov/hhfdc/files/2020/01/FINAL-State_Hawaii-Housing-Planning-Study.pdf
https://ce.naco.org/?dset=Housi ng%20Affordability&ind=Housing%2OAffordabil ity%20Profiles
'v https://www.unitedforaIice.org/county-profiles/hawaii
Comm. No.y
Ref, To: PRARXIhO
Ref, Date AUG 1 8 2021