Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0849.002 2018-2020 Harry Kim 4I OF cP•� �. Duane Hosaka Mayor Housing Administrator Roy Takemoto Managing Director Alisa A.Hanselman Assistant Housing Administrator Barbara J.Kossow Deputy Managing Director County of Hawaii Office of Housing and CommunityDevelopment 1990 Kino`ole Street,Suite 102 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 (808)961-8379 • Fax(808)961-8685 j Existing Housing:(808)959-4642 Fax(808)959-9308 ' Kona: (808)323-4300 • Fax(808)323-4301 April 6, 2020 rnh 3 MEMORANDUM ani s h TO: Chair Aaron Chung --, and Hawaii County Council Members FROM: DUANE HOSAKA 3 Housing Administrator RE: Resolutions 562-20 and 563-20 & Bill 155 The Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) would like to submit the following supporting information for Council's favorable consideration of Resolutions 562-20, 563-20 and Bill 155. S Resolutions 562-20 and 563-20: 2020-2024 COUNTY OF HAWAII CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND 2020 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN Hawaii County receives federal Community Development Block Grant(CDBG), HOME t Investment Partnerships Program(HOME) and National Housing Trust Fund(HTF)program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD). As a condition to receiving these federal grant funds,HUD requires that grantees (Hawai`i County) submit a 5 Year Consolidated Plan(ConPlan) and an Annual Action Plan(Action Plan). These Plans are tools used to determine how HUD's funds will be used to address the housing and related needs of low- and moderate-income families by improving the availability and affordability of decent, safe and sanitary housing. The County's ConPlan is a comprehensive planning document which identifies the housing and community development needs and priorities for the County of Hawai'i for the next five years. It sets forth the County's strategies and objectives in addressing these needs and provides a framework for the Action Plan, which details the specific project and activities the County will undertake in each of the five years to carry out the ConPlan. The goals and priorities contained in the ConPlan are used to allocate the CDBG, HOME and/or HTF funds, in accordance with 2168aaah Cotmn. No. " - Ref.To: P WAnctl EQUAL HOUSING Ref.pate A.. , 0 8 z= OPPORTUNITY i Chair Chung and Hawaii County Council Members April 6, 2020 Page 2 i program eligibility requirements and program rules. These goals and priorities were established from input from the community, organizations,non-profits and government agencies. Hawaii County was awarded $2,626,423 in CDBG funds for 2020. In order for Hawaii County to receive these funds,this 2020-2024 ConPlan and 2020 Action Plan must be executed and submitted to HUD by May 15, 2020. Although this deadline was extended because of the 4 COVID-19, a delay in the submittal of these plans will delay the County's receipt of these grant funds. This will jeopardize the ability of some of the projects to move forward because of their timeline constraints, while others risk losing their other sources of funds as their deadlines will not be met. Without CDBG projects and its projected expenditures, Hawaii County will not meet its timeliness expenditure requirements. This will negatively impact its future federal funding allocations. The 2020 Action Plan is part of the 2020-2024 ConPlan. The Action Plan contains the projects that will utilize the 2020 CDBG funds. These projects were solicited on a Request for Proposal basis and were selected in accordance with the CDBG program's rules and regulations and based on the County's needs and priorities contained in the County's ConPlan. In addition to meeting the program's eligibility criteria, project feasibility and its ability to meet the federal expenditure requirement in a timely manner were also considering factors. All of the CDBG funds are utilized to benefit low- and moderate-income groups or areas within Hawaii County. Hawaii County anticipates receiving $1,543,033 in additional CDBG funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. OHCD along with the Mayor's Covid-19 Task Force are preparing for possible eligible activities to utilize the funds and will be updating the ConPlan and Action Plan accordingly. Bill 155: APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE BLOCK GRANT ACCOUNT ($2,626,423) AND PROGRAM INCOME ($100,000) Hawaii County was awarded $2,626,423 in CDBG funds for 2020. The 2020 Annual Action Plan contains the projects that will utilize the 2020 CDBG funds. These projects were solicited on a Request for Proposal basis and were selected in accordance with the CDBG program's rules and regulations and based on the County's goals and priorities contained in the County's 2020- 2024 ConPlan. A total of thirteen(13) CDBG projects proposals were received. Based on the program rating system, seven(7)project proposals did not meet the minimum 50%or 1,500 points project passing threshold for various reasons including poorly written or deficient project proposal, insufficient project planning, lack of familiarity or ability to meet the federal overlay requirements, not meeting program eligibility requirements, inability to meet the federal expenditure requirement in a timely manner, etc. In consideration of these crucial factors and/or foreseeable issues,these projects would not be completed within its proposed timeline/schedule and risk repayment of funds. Therefore, they were not considered for funding. The five (5)projects that were selected for funding are as follows: Chair Chung and Hawaii County Council Members April 6, 2020 Page 3 MENTAL HEALTH KOKUA—FACILITY SEWER CONNECTION As mandated,the non-profit Mental Health Kokua(MHK) is awarded$220,000 of 2020 CDBG funds to design and connect to the County sewer line for its 3 Kona homes. MHK provides housing and services for 18 adults with mental illness at 3 houses in Kailua-Kona. The project involves renovations to remove existing cesspools, sewer line connection and plumbing to attach to the sewer line. KIHEIPUA EMERGENCY SHELTER Kiheipua is a homeless shelter for families with children. The non-profit, HOPE Services Hawaii, Inc. is awarded $388,175 of 2020 CDBG funds to renovate the current kitchen to meet Department of Health's Certified Kitchen requirements to feed homeless families at the Hilo Shelter. HOPE Services previously received CDBG funds for the design and renovation costs for its roof replacement and certified kitchen. However, the project was over budget and additional funding is needed to complete the kitchen renovations. KAIAULU O WAIKOLOA The non-profit Ikaika Ohana is awarded $800,000 of 2020 CDBG funds for off-site sewer line improvements to support its 60-unit affordable multi-family apartment project in Waikoloa. This project will contain two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom units to household with incomes at or below 30-60%area median income. The project is receiving financing with Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Section 8 Project Based Vouchers. HALE MALUHIA SHELTER The non-profit, HOPE Services Hawaii, Inc. is awarded $561,015 of 2020 CDBG funds to renovate a homeless single women and senior citizens shelter. This is an 8 unit, 30-year old facility. HOPE Services previously received CDBG funds for roof replacement and accessibility renovations. The majority of the funds were used for the design of the roof and accessible renovations and to conduct a hazard material survey report. However,the project was over budget as a result of the hazard material report findings and additional funding is needed to complete the accessibility improvements and remove the hazardous materials at the shelter to meet Fair Housing and ADA compliance. RESIDENTIAL REPAIR PROGRAM (RRP) The Office of Housing and Community Development's Existing Housing Division is awarded $231,949 of 2020 CDBG funds for its RRP program to provide 5-10 low-interest loans to income eligible households to rehabilitate their homes. RRP program began in 1997 and has provided assistance to over 200 homeowners. ADMINISTRATION, PLANNING AND FAIR HOUSING $525,284 of 2020 CDBG funds will be used to administer and coordinate the County's CDBG and Fair Housing Programs to ensure effective and timely project implementation in accordance with all applicable HUD rules and regulations. CDBG funds will also be used to fund present and future planning studies and documents in accordance with federal rules.