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Home My WebLink About2024 Summer OHCD NewsletterOffice of Housing and Community DevelopmentNEWSLETTER SU MMER 2 024 VOL. 9 Kauhale I Ke Kula Uka Nearing Completion A crewmember works on a utility box at Kauhale I Ke Kula Uka. SEE 'KALOKO' | PAGE 3 A waiting list is now open for Kauhale I KeKula Uka, formerly known as the KalokoHeights Affordable Housing Project, inKailua-Kona. Nonprofit developer Hawaiʻi IslandCommunity Development Corporation(HICDC) through property manager Hawai’iAffordable Properties Inc. will acceptapplications July 29, 2024, to August 12, 2024.A lottery will be then held to determine theorder in which residents will be processed foreligibility and final tenant selection. Completion of Kauhale I Ke Kula Uka isslated for fall 2024. Families are anticipatedto begin moving into units in December 2024. Kauhale I Ke Kula Uka features 99 familyunits, including 58 3-bedroom units and 41 2-bedroom units, in addition to one residentmanager’s unit. The development will provide homes for AFFORDABLE HOUSING DASHBOARD LAUNCHED The Affordable Housing Dashboard providesa user-friendly interface where residentscan find information on existing rentalunits and projects in the pipeline. The County of Hawaiʻi haslaunched a new online toolto help residents track andfind affordable housingprojects on Hawaiʻi Island. The County of HawaiʻiAffordable HousingDashboard provides a user-friendly interface whereresidents can easily viewdetails such as projectlocation and income limits,as well as status updates forthe over 8,100 units in theaffordable housing pipelineand thousands of existingrental units. Thisinformation is crucial forresidents interested inunderstanding theavailability and accessibilityof housing options withintheir communities. "Our commitment toenhancing housingopportunities for allresidents of Hawaiʻi Island isunwavering. This new onlinetool reflects our dedicationto transparency and SEE 'DASHBOARD' | PAGE 3 Families are anticipated to begin moving into Kauhale I Ke Kula Uka in December 2024. County of Hawaiʻi photos FAMILIES TO BEGIN MOVING INTO UNITS IN DECEMBER 2024 families earning 30% to 60% of area median income (AMI). Five of the units are set asidefor eligible households with children that areexperiencing homelessness, at-risk ofbecoming homeless, or transitioning out of New Tool Lets Public Explore Existing and Pipeline Units SUC CE SS IN THE SPO TLI GHT www.housing.hawaiicounty.govSUMMER 2 024 Nonprofits assist justice-involved resident in charting a new path Going Home Hawaiʻi (GHH) and Bridge House Inc.(BH) are nonprofit organizations that received Year 1and Year 2 County of Hawaiʻi Homelessness andHousing Fund grants. A remarkable transformation hasunfolded in the life of a Big Island woman,thanks to the dedicated efforts of GoingHome Hawaiʻi and community partnerssupported by the County of Hawaiʻi’sHomelessness and Housing Fund. C.A. (initials used to protectparticipant’s identity) entered the GoingHome Hawaiʻi (GHH) program in January2024. GHH is a 501(c)3 nonprofit thatassists justice-involved men, women, andyouth with reintegration into communitylife through employment, education,housing, and appropriate services. In her mid-50s, and unable to maintainemployment due to health concerns, GHHworked with C.A. to secure Social SecurityDisability Income benefits to supportherself as she embarked on her journey. With the supportive services of GHH,C.A. successfully completed substanceabuse treatment at Bridge House, Inc., andbegan her own Alcoholics Anonymous andNarcotics Anonymous (AA/NA) meetingsfor fellow participants. Meanwhile, C.A. worked hard tograduate from Big Island Drug Court, andin mid-May earned a college certificate asa health care worker. She has sincetransitioned to independent housing,reunited with her adult children, obtainedher driver’s license and purchased avehicle. Though C.A. has completed the GHHprogram, she continues tosponsor/mentor some of the nonprofit’scurrent participants. She was also able totrain a peer to take over the on-siteAA/NA meetings that she had started. Les Estrella, CEO of Going HomeHawaiʻi, called C.A.’s journey “atremendously inspiring real-time story ofresilience, perseverance, anddetermination” noting how “meaningfulsupport can lead to transformativechange.” “She not only obtained success in herlife but continues to inspire others insimilar circumstances. Truly, a peerleader!” Estrella added. Persons requiring specialaccommodation should call theOHCD at (808) 961-8379 at least ten(10) calendar days prior to thehearings so arrangements can bemade. Citizens who are unable toattend these hearings may submittestimony on their housing andcommunity development needs byAugust 29, 2024, to Susan Kunz,Housing Administrator, 1990 KinoʻoleSt., Suite 102, Hilo, HI 96720, or by e-mail to ohcdcdbg@hawaiicounty.gov. The goal of the CDBG program is toencourage the development of viablecommunities by providing decenthousing, suitable living environments,and expanding economicopportunities for persons of low- andmoderate-income. The Countyexpects to receive approximately$2,600,000 in Program Year 2025. For more information on CDBGprogram criteria, eligibilityrequirements, and programobjectives, please visitwww.hawaiicounty.gov/cdbg. Project proposals will only beaccepted electronically startingSeptember 1, 2024, and will be due by4:30 p.m. on November 15, 2024. The County of Hawaiʻi Office ofHousing and CommunityDevelopment and the State of HawaiʻiHousing Finance and DevelopmentCorporation are beginning the 2025Consolidated/Action Plan process forthe CDBG program. As required by federal regulations,the County, in conjunction withHHFDC, will hold public hearings onthe following dates: Virtual Public Hearing via ZoomAugust 22, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.To register, go tohttps://tinyurl.com/3nkxzyw5Dial-in: 1-669-254-5252Meeting ID: 161 117 4414 In-Person Public HearingAugust 29, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. 1990 Kinoʻole St., Suite 104Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720 The purpose of these publichearings is to hear views andcomments from citizens on housingand community development needsand the past performance of the U.S.Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment's (HUD's) CDBGprogram. Notice of Public Hearings and Request for Proposals for 2025Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program bathroom homes were built by thefamilies who will occupy them. Eachhousehold earns between 30% and 80% of Area Median Income. For more information on HICDC’sMutual Self-Help Housing Program,please visit www.hicdcorp.org. SECOND PHASE OF SELF-HELP HOMES COMPLETED IN ʻĀINALOA The Hawaiʻi Island CommunityDevelopment Corporation (HICDC)blessed the second and final phase of itsʻĀinaloa Mutual Self-Help HousingProgram during a ceremony held Friday,July 19, 2024. The 10 three-bedroom, two- Ten Hawaiʻi Island families gathered in July to celebrate the milestone of homeownership. County of Hawaiʻi photo www.housing.hawaiicounty.govSUMMER 2 024 STAY CONNECTED KALOKO: Continued from front an emergency shelter ortransitional housing program. “We are glad to bring theseaffordable homes to the Kona community. Our thanks go outto the State Hawaiʻi HousingFinance and DevelopmentCorporation, the County of Hawaiʻi, the National EquityFund and Bank of Hawaiʻi forfunding this project. A specialthanks to RCFC Kaloko Heights LLC who provided theland and water for the projectalong with constructing asewer line that we will tie into,” said Keith Kato,executive director of HICDC.“We couldn't have done itwithout these partners. Theircontributions will benefit thelocal community forgenerations to come.” Applications may beobtained and submitted onlineat www.hawaiiaffordable.com;in-person at the HawaiiAffordable Properties Inc.office at the Honalo BusinessCenter, located at 79-7266Mamalahoa Highway, Suite 1,Kealakekua, Hawaii, 96750; orvia U.S. Mail by calling (808)322-3422 (TDD: 877-447-5990), sending an email to UPCOMING OFFICE CLOSURES Friday, August 16 — Statehood Day Monday, September 2 — Labor Day Tuesday, November 5 — General Election Day Monday, November 11 — Veterans Day Facebook: @hawaiicounty.officeofhousing Instagram: @hawaiicounty.officeofhousing Online: www.housing.hawaiicounty.gov Email: ohcd@hawaiicounty.gov accountability, ensuring that residents have theinformation they need toparticipate in the dialogueabout housing development in our County,” HousingAdministrator Susan Kunzsaid. Built entirely in-house by staff from the Department ofInformation Technology andOffice of Housing andCommunity Development, the County of Hawaiʻi AffordableHousing Dashboard utilizes an array of informationprovided by various County and State agencies and non-profit and for-profit developer partners. Future phases will incorporate additional datapoints regarding affordablehousing on Hawaiʻi Island. Kauhale I Ke Kula Uka is located at 73-4515 Hina Lani Street. County of Hawaiʻi photo kalokoapplications@hawaiiaffordable.com, or mailing awritten request with yourname, address and contactnumber to: Hawaii Affordable Properties, Inc., PO Box 148,Kealakekua, Hawaii, 96750. For more information onthe HICDC and its programs,please visit www.hicdcorp.org. DASHBOARD: Continued from front Explore theAffordable HousingDashboard byscanning theQR code at left or by visitingthe OHCD website at www.housing.hawaiicounty.gov. The Coordination Center offers a first point-of-contact for Hawaiʻi County residents to get connected toservices, ensuring you have access to the supports you need. We help you find, navigate, and connectwith housing, financial, and health-related resources offered in our community. Call or text (808) 501-1413 or visit neighborhoodplace.org today! Regular business hours: M-F 8:00am-4:30pm.Calls and texts received outside of business hours will be returned within 2 business days. THE COORDINATION CENTER your first step to support In partnership with theCounty of Hawaiʻi space at the short-term shelter on KuawaStreet will be dismantled and removed. Security measures will remain in place tomonitor the area and ensure compliance withestablished rules and laws. Individuals whoviolate these rules will be removed from the site and subject to enforcement actions. Looking ahead, the County of Hawaiʻi, incollaboration with The Salvation ArmyHawaiian and Pacific Islands Division, is planning to open a new emergency overnightcot sleeping shelter for 25 individuals perevening in Downtown Hilo in late August. Individuals experiencing homelessness who require access to community resourcesare encouraged to contact the HawaiʻiCounty Homeless Engagement (HCHE) Huiby visiting this website or calling (808) 501- 1413, ext. 3. Former Hilo Canal Residents Successfully Moved to New Location Hawaiʻi County officials are pleased toannounce the successful relocation of residents from the Ponahawai TemporaryRespite Area to a newly established short-term shelter on Kuawa Street, near theHoʻolulu Complex in Hilo. The July 31, 2024, move was carried out withthe coordinated efforts of the County ofHawaiʻi, Hope Services Hawaiʻi, Project VisionHawaiʻi, the Neighborhood Place of Puna, Going Home Hawaiʻi, and the Salvation ArmyHawaiʻi, who assisted 15 residents in safelymoving themselves, their belongings, andtheir pets to the new location. The Kuawa Street site will continue to offernetted Quickshades for residents to storetheir belongings and receive essentialservices. As each person transitions to permanent or emergency housing, their