HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0722.003 2020-2022 P/FC,
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COUNTYCLERK
Testimony Concerning County of Hawaii Bilis 152 and 153COUNTY F HAWAII
Hawaii Island Community Development CorporationC
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April 18, 2022 � t
The Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation (HICDC) supports the passage of Bill No. 153.
Having a dedicated source of funding for affordable housing will improve the county's ability to support
affordable housing by creating a stable source of funding. Current exactions on an ad hoc basis have
been useful but are difficult to program into development projects due to their sporadic nature.
Regarding Bill 152 we offer the following comments:
The proposed uses of funds includes development of affordable housing, preservation of affordable
housing and direct support to households. Fundamentally the island is facing a shortage of affordable
housing and both preservation and expansion of affordable housing is needed.
While direct support is also useful it can consume a substantial amount of funding on a continuing basis
without increasing the supply of housing. The cost of subsidizing a household over a prolonged period
of time should be considered in comparison to the long term benefit of having an affordable housing
unit available for decades. It should be noted that HHFDC used to have a program with direct household
support coming out of State funds, however, that program was dropped and the HHFDC's funds are now
directed exclusively toward increasing the supply of affordable housing.
Federal funding sources have been the source of direct subsidies to households. This includes the
Section 8 program and rental assistance from HUD and USDA RD where these agencies provide
development funding.
Ce rn. No.
Ref, To:
Ref. D�e�e APR 1 9 2022