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Home My WebLink About2024 Winter OHCD NewsletterCRITICAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS COMMENCED, SCORES OF UNITS DELIVERED Kahu Kealoha Sugiyama blesses Waikoloa Family Affordable as Coalition for Specialized Housing President Jeff Emerson looks on. County of Hawaiʻi photos 2023 was a big year for the County ofHawaiʻi Office of Housing and CommunityDevelopment (OHCD). During the 365-day period, the OHCDsaw the completion of scores of affordablehousing units and the start of work ondozens more, administered millions ofdollars via two new local funds aimed ataddressing homelessness and housing, andprovided rental assistance to over 2,300households on Hawaiʻi Island, among manyother highlights. Here’s a look back at the year 2023: HOUSING DELIVERED In 2023, 159 affordable housing units werecompleted and ready for occupancyproviding homes for over hundreds in thecommunity. The largest chunk of those units cameonline in July with the completion of theWaikoloa Family Affordable project. Located at the bottom of Waikoloa Village,Waikoloa Family Affordable features 110one- and two-bedroom units reserved for Housing Hawai’i Island: 2023 in Review Housing Hawai’i Island: 2023 in Review PROGRAMS GET A BOOST I N TH I S I S S U E WI NTE R 2 024 V OL. 7 Office of Housing and Community DevelopmentNEWSLETTER The Alfonso ʻohana poses for a photo during adedication ceremony for the first phase of the ʻĀinaloa Mutual Self-Help Housing Program. SEE 'IN REVIEW' | PAGE 2 A message from Housing Administrator Susan Kunz 2 LOOKING AHEAD Dedicated specialists to oversee FSS and HOP programs FAMILIES RECEIVE DONATED LAPTOPS Vibrant Hawaiʻi donation supports Na Kahua Hale O Ulu Wini 3 SENIOR HOUSING NEARLY COMPLETE Applications being accepted for lottery for Hale Nā Koa ʻO Hanakahi 3 households earning up to 60% of AreaMedian Income (AMI). Other projects finished in 2023 include:The first phase of 10 three-bedroom homesin the ʻĀinaloa Mutual Self-Help HousingProgram led by the Hawaiʻi IslandCommunity Development Corporation 3 www.housing.hawaiicounty.govWINTER 2 024 HOPE Services Hawaiʻi Inc.completed 12 modular studio unitsfor veterans and kūpuna at itsSacred Heart Housing Project inPahoa. The HICDC completed 10 self-helphomes in ʻĀinaloa for familiesearning up to 80% of AMI. Waikoloa Family Affordable110 units + manager unitTargeting households earningup to 60% of AMI Ikaika Ohana completed 24 single-family homes at the Department ofHawaiian Homelands Laʻi ʻŌpuaVillage 4 Ākau in Kona. Three affordable lotsfor single-familyhomes werecompleted by RS10Kalaoa. Kunz Construction progressed quickly in 2023at the Kaloko Heights Affordable HousingProject in Kailua-Kona. County of Hawaiʻiphoto SEE 'MESSAGE' | PAGE 3 Warmest greetings andHappy New Year! Looking Ahead A MESSAGE FROM HOUSING ADMINISTRATOR SUSAN KUNZ As weembark upon2024, theOffice ofHousing andCommunityDevelopment(OHCD) welcomes theopportunities the newyear brings to continueto build on our successesas we face newchallenges. Looking back, 2023was a momentous yearfor the OHCD staff withthe rollout of two localfunds aimed ataddressing homelessnessand affordable housingon Hawaiʻi Island,continued efforts toupdate the County ofHawaiʻi AffordableHousing Policy, and thecompletion of scores ofaffordable housing units. In 2024, the OHCD iscommitted to buildingupon these efforts as wework to ensure allHawaiʻi Island residentshave a safe and decentplace to call home. The work of the OHCDwill remain guided by theCounty of HawaiʻiStrategic Roadmap forHousing Developmentand Strategic Roadmapfor Homelessness andHousing. We’re going to stayfocused and the teamremains committed to theOHCD’s mission toprovide for thedevelopment of viablecommunities throughdecent housing, suitableliving environments andexpanded economicopportunities. (HICDC); 12 studio units withsupportive services for homelesskūpuna and veterans led by HOPEServices Hawaiʻi, Inc. at its SacredHeart Affordable Housing Projectin Pahoa; three affordable forsingle-family homes in Kailua-Kona; and 24 three- and four-bedroom homes at theDepartment of HawaiianHomelands Laʻi ʻŌpua Village 4Ākau in North Kona. PROJECTS COMMENCED Despite the lingering impacts ofthe coronavirus pandemic and theimpacts of market volatility andincreasing interest rates seen in2023, the OHCD saw much-needed projects get off theground. The first came in late January,with the blessing andgroundbreaking for site work andaccess road for the first phase ofthe long-awaited KukuiolaEmergency Shelter andAssessment Center. State andCounty funds are covering the tabof site preparation while the firstphase will be funded primarily bya $10 million federal grant. Vertical construction of the first16 units is targeted to start thisspring. Additionally, 46 safeovernight parking stalls will be IN REVIEW: Continued from front provided in the first phase forunsheltered individuals living invehicles. A second phase will add at least48 permanent housing units withsupports. A third phase tentativelyincludes long-term rental housing. Other projects that gotunderway in 2023 include: The 91-unit Hale Nā Koa ‘O Hanakahiproject for veterans, survivingspouses and other income-qualified seniors in Hilo; the 99-unit Kaloko Heights AffordableHousing Project off Hina LaniStreet in North Kona; and thesecond phase of 10 homes of theʻĀinaloa Mutual Self-Help HousingProgram in Puna. PIPELINE BOOSTED While marking milestones withproject starts and ends, staff wereworking hard to grow theAffordable Housing Pipeline,which reached a high of over6,800 units by the start of 2024.That’s up about 470% from 1,200units in December 2020 whenMayor Mitch Roth’sadministration took the helm. The pipeline includes all afford-able housing units in variousstages of development – fromproposal to nearly complete – onHawaiʻi Island. By continuing to fillthe pipeline with viable projects,the OHCD is ensuring units willcontinue to be placed into the AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS COMPLETED IN 2023 housing stock for years to come. FUNDING ADMINISTERED The OHCD in 2023 was taskedwith administering two fundsaimed at addressing homeless-ness and housing on HawaiʻiIsland. That’s in addition to themillions of dollars of federal andstate housing and homelessnessmonies administered each year bythe OHCD. The Affordable HousingProduction Program ramped up in2023 with the completion ofadministrative rules and anelectronic application programfollowed by a Request ForProposals (RFP) for over $17.3million in available funding. A selection committee re-viewed, ranked, and rated the SEE '2023' | PAGE 3 110 units 24 units 10 units 12 units 3 units www.housing.hawaiicounty.govWINTER 2 0 24 online at eahhousing.org/apartments/hilo, or via U.S. mailor in-person at Hale Nā Koa ʻOHanakahi, c/o EAH HousingManagement Office, HonoluluOffice, 1103 Liliha St., #102,Honolulu, HI 96817 or byappointment at the HiloTemporary Office (date andaddress to be determined). To obtain an applicationpacket in the mail, call (808) 466-8615 or email HN-Management@eahhousing.org.TDD: (877) 447-5991. EAH Housing is acceptingapplications to be included in arandom lottery drawing todetermine priority order forunits at Hale Nā Koa ‘OHanakahi off Kawili Street inHilo. Hale Nā Koa ‘O Hanakahi is a62-year-old or older seniorcommunity with a preferencefor veterans and survivingspouses of veterans. The unitswill serve households at orbelow 80% Area Median Income(AMI), with approximately 12 units targeting 30% AMI, 38units targeting households at orbelow 50% AMI, 31 unitstargeting 60% AMI, and 10 unitstargeting households at 80%AMI. There will be oneunrestricted unit for themanager. The 50 units servinghouseholds at or below 50%AMI will receive project-basedSection 8 assistance through theHawaiʻi County Housing Agency. Applications will be acceptedFebruary 12 to 29, 2024.Applications may be obtained HALE NĀ KOA ʻO HANAKAHI ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING IN HILO Families At Na Kahua Hale O Ulu Wini Receive Donated Laptop Computers Families who reside at Na Kahua Hale O Ulu Wini receivieddonated laptops from Vibrant Hawaiʻi. Courtesy photo Twenty-five Dell laptop computers wererecently distributed to families with school-aged children at Na Kahua Hale O Ulu Winithanks to a donation from non-profit VibrantHawaiʻi. To ensure the laptops went to familiesthat needed a computer most, propertymanager Mark Development, Inc., reviewedits tenant list and identified which families atthe Kailua-Kona affordable housing complexhad children attending school and did nothave a computer in the home. The Office of Housing andCommunity Development ispleased to announce its FamilySelf-Sufficiency Program andHome-ownership OptionProgram each now has adedicated coordinator to assistHousing Choice Voucher (Section8) participants in achieving theirgoals of self-sufficiency and/orhomeownership. Maile Martinson, a four-yearveteran of the OHCD, leads theHomeownership Option Program(HOP) while Jenny Suefuji, whohas been with OHCD for over 17years, oversees the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program. HOP allows first timehomeowners to use their rentalassistance to help pay formonthly homeownershipexpenses. Under the HOP,monthly subsidy is paid to amortgage lender instead of alandlord. FSS enables families to achievefinancial independence andeventually move out of publichousing or off rental assistance.The voluntary program is open toHousing Choice Voucherparticipants and has two mainfeatures: Case management/coaching services and a financialincentive. For more information, call (808)959-4642 or send an email tofsshopinfo@hawaiicounty.gov. FSS & HOP Programs Now Have Dedicated Specialists other situations. The OHCD is also proud toreport its Landlord IncentiveProgram, which offered amonetary bonus to landlordswho lease to a Section 8participant, was a success. Over 130 new units were leasedto voucher recipients because ofthe federally funded program. Meanwhile, staff worked withover seven dozen Section 8families via the OHCD’s FamilySelf-Sufficiency Program andHomeownership OptionProgram. The programs empowerrecipients to reduce theirdependency on welfareassistance and rental subsidies,and ultimately move up theeconomic ladder. proposals and awarded theavailable funding to sevenproposals impacting 1,167 unitsin the Affordable HousingPipeline. The OHCD also oversaw theaward of over $17.2 million inHomelessness and Housing Fund monies in 2023 throughtwo RFPs guided by the Strategic Roadmap forHomelessness and Housingdeveloped by the public in 2022. The OHCD is working tolaunch in March an onlinedashboard to reportperformance outcomes. RESIDENTS SERVED In 2023, the OHCD’s ExistingHousing Division issued over2,200 Section 8 (housingassistance) vouchers to HawaiʻiIsland families resulting in theCounty of Hawaiʻi utilizing100% of the $29 millionallocated for rental subsidies by the U.S. Department ofHousing and UrbanDevelopment (HUD). Of those vouchers, 300 weredesignated as “special purpose”in that they provide uniqueopportunities to target rentalassistance resources to specificpopulations, including U.S.veterans, foster youth reachingadulthood, personsexperiencing homelessness orfleeing domestic violence and MESSAGE: Continued from Page 2 To keep up-to-date on housing-related news and happenings onHawaiʻi Island, follow the OHCDon Facebook and Instagram@hawaiicounty.officeofhousing orvisit www.housing.hawaiicounty.gov. On behalf of the OHCD, I wishyou a happy, healthy, andsuccessful 2024. 2023: Continued from Page 2 STAY CONNECTEDUPCOMING OFFICE CLOSURES Monday, February 19 — Presidents’ Day Tuesday, March 26 — Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Day Friday, March 29 — Good Friday Monday, May 27 — Memorial Day Facebook: @hawaiicounty.officeofhousing Instagram: @hawaiicounty.officeofhousing Online: www.housing.hawaiicounty.gov Email: ohcd@hawaiicounty.gov