HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0721.020 2020-2022 lCIO MCA-
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CATHOLIC CHARITIES I IAWAI`I
TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 152, CHARTER AMENDMENT, County Housing
Program Revolving Fund
TO: County of Hawaii, Holeka Goro Inaba, Chair&Members, Committee on
Finance
FROM: Rob Van Tassell, President and CEO, Catholic Charities Hawaii CD
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Hearing: Wednesday,May 4,2022 at gam R;,
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Chair Holeka Goro Inaba, and Members, Committee on Finance:
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Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony in support of Bill 152, which seeks to
clarify the use of the Housing Revolving Fund. I am Rob Van Tassell, with Catholic Charities
Hawaii.
Catholic Charities Hawaii(CCH) is a tax exempt,non-profit agency that has been providing
social services in Hawai'i for 75 years. CCH provides 11 different programs in the County of
Hawaii. These include counseling services, general immigration services, family strengthening,
disaster assistance and housing and utility assistance, etc. CCH has a long history of working in
the areas of affordable housing and homelessness.
CCH supports initiatives which will create and/or improve affordable housing for the
people of Hawai'i County. This is greatly needed to fulfill the affordable housing needs in the
county. Hawaii County residents pay 61% of income for housing and transportation. This is the
highest in the State. 30.6% of residents pay over 30% of their income for shelter costs. 13,300
housing units are needed by 2025 for County residents. Action is needed now to help these
struggling families and to prevent more homelessness.
This bill provides clarification for the use of funds to expand affordable housing options. This
would enable the County and developers to actively work to develop housing units.
We urge the County to invest in the critical need for affordable housing. Each year, our state
falls further behind in meeting the housing needs of our residents. People are moving out of the
state due to the high cost of living. This creative measure would help to build the rentals needed
to also built resiliency for the future, and bring hope to the families in Hawaii County.
Catholic Charities Hawaii urges your support to pass Bill 152.
Please contact our Director of Advocacy and Community Relations, Shellie Niles,
at(808) 527-4813, or shellie.nlles(i),catholiccharitieshawaii.org if you have any questions.
Comm. fid ,
Ref. To: l —
Ref. Date MAY 4 2Q'
CLARENCE T. C. CHING CAMPUS • 1822 Ke`eaumoku Street, Honolulu, HI 96822
� Phone'; {s o s s 2 z-4 9 13 • 'shellie.riles!