HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0891.000 2022-2024 Mitchell D. Roth JNtV,OF,,,,,,' Diane Nakagawa
Mayor •�1-7� ��4d�..�y�. % Director
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Deputy Director
County of Hawaii
Finance Department i
25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2103 • Hilo,Hawai`i 96720 _" C G
(808)961-8234 • Fax(808)961-8569 =c_
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May 16, 2024 Ri r-
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Heather Kimball, Council Chair and .r—.
Members of the Hawai`i County Council
Hawai`i County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Re: Agreement with the State of Hawai`i, Hawai`i Housing Finance and Development
Corporation and the University of Hawai`i Economic Research Organization
Enclosed is a resolution to enter into a multi-agency Memorandum of Agreement with
the State of Hawai`i, Hawai`i Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC)
and the University of Hawai`i Economic Research Organization to conduct a State-wide
Analysis of Impediments (AI)to Fair Housing.
The total cost of the agreement is anticipated to be $233,541, of which an estimated
$33,363 will be charged to the Office of Housing and Community Development.
If there are any questions,please do not hesitate to call Cristina Pineda or Susan Kunz,
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from the Office of Housing and Community Development at 323-4304.
(6 r `Ll(tritr ,
Diane Nakagawa
Director of Finance
Enc.
c: OHCD
Comm. No.
Ref. To:
Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and ProviderRef. Date AY 2 0
Form #: B-52
7/18/91
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
DEPARTMENT: Office of Housing & Community Dev. DATE: 05.08.2024
STAFF CONTACT: Cristina Pineda, Susan K. Kunz PHONE: 808.323.4304
A. REQUEST:
The Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) is requesting a resolution for the County of
Hawaii to enter a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the State of Hawaii's Hawaii Housing Finance
and Development Corporation (HHFDC). HHFDC will be incorporating this MOA, into a multi-agency contract
with the University of Hawaii Econoic Research Organization (UHERO) to conduct a State-wide Analysis of
Impediments to Fair Housing (Al). OHCD is a part of a state-wide Fair Housing Coordinators group that has
agreed as a joint effort to condcut the Al.
The total cost of the Al is $233,541.00, to be paid by seven (7) particpating agencies, divided equally. The
portion of the payment for the County of Hawaii OHCD is $33,363.00. HHFDC will remit progress payments
to UHERO on behalf of all participating agencies.
The OHCD respectfully requests that the above mentioned matter be placed on the Finance Committee
Agenda on June 4, 2023.
B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED):
The Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq., prohibits discrimination by direct providers of housing, such as
landlords and real estate companies as well as other entities, such as municipalities, banks or other lending
institutions and homeowners insurance companies whose discriminatory practices make housing unavailable
to persons because of: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familal status, or disability. One of the
central objectives of the Fair Housing Act, when Congress enacted it in 1968, was to prohibit race
discrimination in sales and rentals of housing. Nevertheless, race discrimination in housing continues to be a
problem.
The Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH) rule was reestablished by the U.S. Department of Housing &
Urban Development (HUD) on February 9, 2023. This rule requires that agencies in receipt of federal
funds—such as the OHCD—proactively take meaningful actions to overcome patterns of segregation,
promote fair housing choice, eliminate disparities in opportunities, and foster inclusive communities free from
discrimination. As part of those efforts, the OHCD has joined as a participant in a state-wide Analysis of
Impediments to Fair Housing (Al), which is conducted every 5 years as a part of HUD's Consolidated Plan.
This year's Al will be conducted by UHERO and is expected to be produce a report by December 2024.
The MOA between the County of Hawaii and HHFDC and serves as the documented commitment to
participate in the Al.
As part of their contract services, UHERO will work to update the previous Al and analize HUD-provided
maps and tables which help identify segregation and integration of protected classes.The following
components will be anaylized at statewide and local levels: Local information, Public Policies, Private Market
Activity and Fair Housing Environment. Specific areas of inquiry for this year's study feature analysis of the
following: Housing Preference, NIMBY "Not in my Backyward" local resistance to affordable projects; and
Native Hawaiians & Native Hawaiian Fair Housing issues.
UHERO will facilitate public participation to engage the community through focus groups, community
meetins, surveys and other efective outreach mesasures. UHERO attended the statewide annual Fair
Housing seminar and acquired hundreds of housing providers and housing-related service providers that
expressed and interest and willingness to be contacted for the purspose of the Al.
Individual draft reports will be provided to each participant (including OHCD)by August 1, 2024, with a final
report anticipated to be published by December 31, 2024.
SIGNED: DATE:
Department Head