HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 Summer OHCD NewsletterCOUNTY OF HAWAIʻI OFFICE OF HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTNEWSLETTER
Renovations Underway at
Kulaʻimano Elderly Housing
Renovations and upgrades are underway
at the County of Hawaiʻi’s Kulaʻimano
Elderly Housing in Pepeʻekeo.
Kulaʻimano Elderly Housing (KEH)
features 50 one-bedroom units across 17
buildings. Constructed between 1977 and
‘79, KEH was the Office of Housing and
Community Development’s first
development project after its establishment
in 1975.
This $11.1 million initiative includes
exterior and interior building renovations,
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
improvements, and various site
improvements, including construction of a
concrete walkway and ramp.
Nan Inc. was the lowest bidder for the
project that is supported by federal State
and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Work is anticipated to take about a year
to complete. During the work, residents will
be relocated to vacant units on the site
ensuring no tenants are displaced.
For project updates, please visit
www.housing.hawaiicounty.gov.
Renovations and upgrades are underway at
Kulaʻimano Elderly Housing in Pepeʻekeo. County of Hawaiʻi photo
Renovations and upgrades are underway at
Kulaʻimano Elderly Housing in Pepeʻekeo. County of Hawaiʻi photo
Coming Up: Hawaiʻi Energy
Assistance Program
Applications Open June 2
Need help paying your home
energy bill? H-HEAP may be
able to assist.
Learn more on Page 3
Apply Now: Emergency
Rental Assistance Still
Available to Residents
Applications are still being
accepted for the County of
Hawaiʻi’s Emergency Rental
Assistance Program.
Learn more on Page 3
In Focus: Affordable
Housing ProductionProgram RFP
Proposals sought for County
of Hawaiʻi’s Affordable
Housing Production Program
Fiscal Year 2025-26 funding.
Learn more on Page 4
SUMMER 2025 VOL. 11WWW.HOUSING.HAWAIICOUNTY.GOV
OFFICE OF HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2025
FROM RENTER
TO OWNER
Homeownership Option
Program Offers HCV
Participants Chance to
Own Their Own Home
A single mother of three is finally
seeing hope for a stable future for her
family.
With a disabled son and limited
Social Security income, “Faith,” who
has requested anonymity, once felt
homeownership was out of reach.
However, through the County of
Hawaiʻi Office of Housing and
Community Development’s Housing
Choice Voucher (HCV)
Homeownership Option Program
(HOP) and supportive community
services she has secured a safe and
accessible home.
HOP is a federal initiative managed
by the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development that enables
eligible low-income families to utilize
their existing rental assistance
vouchers to purchase a home. This
program is designed to assist first-
time homebuyers in achieving
homeownership by providing monthly
assistance to help cover mortgage
payments.
To learn more, contact the HOP
Coordinator at (808) 959-4642 or
fsshopinfo@hawaiicounty.gov.
Build a Brighter Future
REACH FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE WITH
THE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM
Participants in the
Housing Choice Voucher
(HCV), or “Section 8,”
Program are eligible to join
the Family Self-Sufficiency
(FSS) Program, offered by
the County of Hawaiʻi
Office of Housing and
Community Development.
This voluntary program
helps families work toward
financial independence —
while still receiving housing
assistance.
Launched by the U.S.
Department of Housing
and Urban Development in
1990, FSS combines case
management with a
financial incentive.
Participants work with an
OHCD FSS Coordinator to
set employment and
financial goals, access
support services, and track
their progress. The
program typically runs for
five years, with options to
complete it sooner or
extend it under certain
conditions.
Here’s how the financial
incentive works: As a
family’s income increases,
their rent typically goes up.
However, for FSS
participants, the increase in
rent is matched by
deposits into a special
escrow savings account —
funds they can access after
successfully completing
the program.
Past participants have
used their escrow savings
to reduce debt, repair
credit, invest in a business,
pay for education, or even
buy a home.
In 2024, 65 households
participated in FSS with 10
completing the program
and graduating. The total
combined escrow payout
was over $150,000.
Two of the graduates
have since moved on to
the HCV Homeownership
Option Program (HOP).
“The FSS Program is a
powerful tool to help
families build a stronger
financial future while still
receiving needed housing
support. I encourage every
HCV participant to
consider joining — it’s an
opportunity to turn today’s
stability into tomorrow’s
independence,” Housing
Administrator Kehaulani
Costa said.
To learn more, contact
the FSS Coordinator at
(808) 959-4642 or visit
fsshopinfo@hawaiicounty.
gov.
WWW.HOUSING.HAWAIICOUNTY.GOV
OFFICE OF HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2025Emergency Rental Assistance Available
Applications are still being accepted for the
County of Hawaiʻi’s Emergency Rental
Assistance Program (ERAP).
ERAP helps Hawaiʻi Island households that
experienced economic hardship during the
COVID-19 pandemic and are struggling to pay
their rent. ERAP is limited to households at or
below 80% of Area Median Income.
ERAP gives priority to households that
demonstrate the most need and are at imminent
risk of homelessness, including households that
have received eviction notices for nonpayment of
rent; households with rental arrears; and
households that are homeless and have a lease
agreement.
For more information or to apply, please contact
Neighborhood Place of Puna at (808) 298-5566 or
visit https://neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/erap.
Energy Assistance Program Application Period Opens June 2
Applications for the Hawaiʻi
Home Energy Assistance
Program (H-HEAP) Energy
Credit (EC) Program will be
accepted June 2 to 30, 2025.
H-HEAP, previously known
as LIHEAP, is a federally
funded program designed to
help low-income families keep
their utilities on.
EC assists households that
are not in crisis but need
assistance with bill payment
for the heating/cooling of
their residence.
Applicant households must
have an income below 150%
of the Federal Poverty Level.
Households with a TANF, SSI
or SNAP recipient may be
eligible for an exemption.
H-HEAP also supports the
Energy Crisis Intervention
(ECI) Program that assists
households in crisis whose
electric or gas service has
been or will be disconnected.
Applications for ECI are
accepted year-round, but the
number of approvals each
month is limited and fill
quickly.
Applicants may apply, once
per program year, for one of
two types of credit.
For more information on
these programs or to apply,
please contact the Hawaiʻi
County Economic Opportunity
Council (HCEOC) at (808) 731-
7009 or visit
https://hceoc.net/.
Get Ahead With Free Confidential Financial Counseling
The County of Hawaiʻi in partnership
with Hawaiian Community Assets is
committed to enhancing the lives of
Hawaiʻi Island residents by offering a range
of services geared toward promoting
housing stability and strengthening low-
and moderate-income communities.
Financial Empowerment Services are
available at no cost and can help residents
reduce debt, improve credit, create a
budget, grow savings, plan for
homeownership, and connect to safe and
affordable financial products.
For more information, please email
hilofoc@hawaiiancommunity.net, call
(808) 934-0801, or visit
https://hawaiiancommunity.net.
score has improved
significantly, rising from 673
to 745.
SUCCESS IN THE SPOTLIGHT: FES Helps
Resident Reduce Debt, Improve Credit Score
As the old saying goes,
“When one door closes,
another opens.”
For “Keahi,” a client who
was unable to qualify for a
local self-help housing
program due to high debt,
that second door opened
thanks to FES.
Since enrolling in FES,
“Keahi,” who has requested
anonymity, has paid off two
credit cards and is reducing
her debt-to-income (DTI)
ratio. Meanwhile, her credit
“Keahi” is now in a strong
position for the next
opportunity to participate in
a self-help housing project
on Hawaiʻi Island.
WWW.HOUSING.HAWAIICOUNTY.GOV
OFFICE OF HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2025Affordable Housing Production Program RFP Issued
The County of Hawaiʻi Office
of Housing and Community
Development (OHCD) has
issued its Request for
Proposals (RFP) for Affordable
Housing Production (AHP)
Program funding to eligible
non-profit and for-profit
organizations, public agencies,
and community land trusts.
The funding is made possible
through Ordinance 22-77,
which appropriates a minimum
of $5 million per year to the
OHCD to facilitate programs
that will support, increase, and
sustain the availability and
accessibility of affordable
housing on Hawaiʻi Island.
The County has set its
funding priorities for the Fiscal
Year 2025-26 funding round
as follows: (1) Targeting the
“Gap Group” (81%-140% AMI);
(2) Homeownership Initiatives
with Extended Affordability;
and (3) Preservation of
Existing Units.
“We know that finding
affordable housing is one of
the biggest challenges families
face,” said Mayor Kimo
Alameda. “Through this
program, we are supporting
real solutions to make our
island more affordable for
local residents and creating a
stronger, more resilient future
for everyone.”
Proposals must be
submitted electronically
through an online application
platform available at
www.hawaiicounty.gov/ahp.
Proposals are due no later
than 4:30 p.m. on July 7, 2025.
For more information on
AHP and to obtain a copy of
the proposal guide, email
ohcd.ahp@hawaiicounty.gov.
Additional information is also
available online at
www.hawaiicounty.gov/ahp.
Previously Funded Projects Taking Shape
TOP: Nā Hale Makoa, a 139-unit affordable housing project being constructed on
County of Hawaiʻi-owned land in Waikoloa, received $2,000,000 from the AHP
Program in Fiscal Year 2023-24.
ABOVE: HALE o Hawaiʻi Community Land Trust recently completed this 3-
bedroom, 2-bathroom single-family home in Hilo thanks to $300,000 from the
AHP Program in Fiscal Year 2023-24.
Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation and County of Hawaiʻi photos
STAY CONNECTEDUPCOMING OFFICE CLOSURES
Monday, May 26 — Memorial Day
Wednesday, June 11 — King Kamehameha I Day
Friday, July 4 — Independence Day
Friday, August 15 — Statehood Day
Facebook: @hicounty.officeofhousing
Instagram: @hicounty.officeofhousing
Email: ohcd@hawaiicounty.gov
Online: www.housing.hawaiicounty.gov