HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 431 Draft 01 2018-2020 COUNTY OF HAWAIII STATE OF AI`I
RESOLUTION NO. 431 20
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING HAWAII COUNTY TO STRATEGICALLY ADDRESS
ITS ESCALATING HOUSING CRISIS WITH URGENCY.
WHEREAS, a 2015 report by the State Department of Business, Economic Development
& Tourism titled"Measuring Housing Demand in Hawaii, 2015-2025"projected that HawaiiCounty's population will grow by 29 percent by 2025, creating a forecasted demand for 19,610
additional housing units,which is approximately 30 percent of the total projected demand of
64,700 (conservative baseline scenario)housing units needed across the State; and
WHEREAS, a 2017 report by Aloha United Way titled"ALICE: A Study of Financial
Hardship in Hawaii"notes that 62 percent of all jobs in Hawaii pay less than$20 per hour, with
more than two-thirds of those paying less than$15 per hour for an estimated gross of$30,000
per year for a full-time job; and
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2017,households in Hawaii
County had a median income of$56,395; and
WHEREAS, according to Zillow, an online real estate database company, the current
median price of homes is $649,900 in Kailua-Kona, $389,000 in Hilo, $199,085 in Pdhoa, and
$400,000 for Hawaii County as a whole; and
WHEREAS,the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines
an"affordable dwelling" as one that a household can obtain for 30 percent or less of its income;
and
WHEREAS, providing more housing options is essential to meeting the diverse lifestyles
and affordability levels that are critical to attract, retain, and develop a diverse workforce pool as
well as meet the needs of our elderly and vulnerable populations, low-income, and families and
individuals experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes the Hawaii Housing
Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) to develop or assist in the development of
housing projects that qualify for certain exemptions pursuant to Section 201H-38, and to request
expedited processing, a developer must submit the HHFDCs 20 1 H application form, which is
accepted and processed by each county; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 11, Section 11-3, of the Hawaii County Code states that the Office
of Housing and Community Development(OHCD) is responsible for the planning,
administration, and operation of all of the County's housing programs with the goal of providing
for the development of viable communities in Hawaii County by providing decent housing,
suitable living environments, and the expansion of economic opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the County of Hawai`i's most recent"Consolidated Annual Performance
and Evaluation Report (CAPER)" for fiscal year 2018-2019, mandated by HUD and HHFDC,
notes a one-year goal of creating 286 affordable housing units for homeless, low-income, and
special-needs households, however,none were created and reasons for the difference between
goals and outcomes failed to be sufficiently addressed within the report, as required; and
WHEREAS, the County of Hawai`i's "2019 Action Plan of the Consolidated Plan
(2015-2019),"mandated by HUD and HHFDC to obtain and maintain certain federal and state
grant funding, lists 19 actions OHCD will undertake to reduce and/or remove affordable housing
barriers, yet the status on some of these actions remains questionable; and
WHEREAS,the County of Hawaii lacks a comprehensive plan that defines strategies
and target deadlines to create more housing over the short- and long-term, as well as the kind of
housing that is needed and its location, how to fund critical infrastructure, ways to foster public-
private partnerships, recommendations to leverage state and federal policy tools and funding
streams, and policy changes to reduce barriers and obstacles to address the island's housing crisis
with clearly defined purpose, vision, and values; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that
proactively addressing the housing crisis shall be a top priority in the 2020-2021 fiscal year
budget and subsequent budgeting cycles, and serious deliberation must occur on the creation and
long-term financial sustainability of an"Affordable Housing Fund" for the purpose of expanding
affordable housing opportunities throughout Hawaii Island.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that given the sheer magnitude and urgency of this
issue, a Hawaii County Housing Coalition, to include representatives from the County, private
sector, social services, and community-at-large, be formed to help navigate the establishment of
an"Affordable Housing Fund" and work in partnership with the OHCD and other relevant
County departments and agencies to develop and implement a comprehensive housing plan for
Hawaii Island.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the development of the comprehensive housing
plan shall take into consideration the data and recommendations put forth in the State's "Hawai`i
Housing Planning Study, 2016," State's "Housing Functional Plan," "Hawai`i Housing Action
Plan Final Report to the Hawaii State Legislature," and the Aloha United Way report"ALICE:
A Study of Financial Hardship in Hawai`i."
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the comprehensive housing plan should include
the following: social equity; housing options; clear articulation of goals, objectives, and
measurable outcomes; a thorough analysis of all available financial resources and incentives,
noting their strengths and weaknesses; an assessment of policies and processes at the federal,
state, and county levels as well as recommended adjustments to increase housing development;
an action plan and timeline; and an evaluation criteria to measure the achievement of outcomes
and recommendations for continual improvement to ensure the OHCD is on track to meet
housing development goals.
2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that to keep track of affordable housing developments
being proposed for Hawaii County, the OHCD shall provide to the County Council a copy of all
201 H applications upon receipt and file a quarterly progress report on the 201 H applications with
the County Housing Agency, as well as progress and challenges faced in the development of
affordable housing, in general.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Mayor; the Housing Administrator; the Planning Director; the
Director of Finance; the Director of Public Works; the Manager-Chief Engineer of the
Department of Water Supply; the Director of Environmental Management; the County Executive
on Aging; Corporation Counsel; the Executive Director of the State Hawaii Housing Finance
and Development Corporation; the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce Cost of Living Task
Force; and the Vibrant Hawaii Leadership Council.
Dated at Hawaii, this day of 20_.
INTRODUCED BY:
ax
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawaii AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawaii CHUNG
DAVID
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by EOFF
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on KANEALII-KLEINFELDER
KIERKIEWICZ
LEE LOY
ATTEST: POINDEXTER
RICHARDS
VILLEGAS
Reference: C-657/FC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON&PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 4,11 20
3