HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0721.014 2020-2022 dill i52
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From: Cindi Punihaole
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2022 4:26 PM j
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony in Support of Bill 152 and Bill 153
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E: Strong Support of Bill 152 and Bill 153 u
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Hearing Date and Time:April 19, 2022, 10 am video teleconference
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Aloha Council Members Matt Kaneali`i, Chair, Heather Kimball Vice-Chair, and the members of IV Committee
on Finance
As a kama`aina of Kona, it saddens me that our residents discover it very challenging to find affordable housing.
These bills are realistic and pragmatic and can address this critical issue.
I submit testimony in strong support of Bill 153,a Charter amendment bill to amend the Hawaii County
Charter(2020 Edition) to appropriate a minimum of one percent of the certified real property tax revenues
into the County Housing Program Revolving Fund.
I submit testimony in strong support of Bill 152,which amends CHAPTER 2,ARTICLE 13, DIVISION 3, SECTION
2- 75 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION,AS AMENDED) by expanding the uses of the
Housing Program Revolving Fund to include:
Acquisition of vacant land for use as affordable housing that may be developed by the County or with non-
profit partners;Acquisition of existing structures for use as affordable housing; Rehabilitation of existing
structures currently in use as affordable housing or acquired by the County to use for affordable housing;
Infrastructure to support affordable housing development; Subsidies,grants,and loans to support very low
and lower-income households with upfront costs for rental units or mortgage financing; Subsidies, grants, and
loans to support very low and lower-income households with rental assistance or mortgage payments to
prevent houselessness or foreclosure; or Purchasing of deed restrictions on private properties limiting resale
to qualified buyers at resale values for lower-income and moderate-income households in perpetuity as
established by the office of housing and community development administrative rules.
Mahalo,for your kind consideration.
Cynthia Punihaole Kennedy
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