HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-09 HHFDC Fair Market Rent survey -- press release
HAWAI‘I HOUSING FINANCE AND
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR
CRAIG K. HIRAI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone: (808) 587-0641
For Immediate Release: November 10, 2017
Survey Gathering Data on Rents on Oahu and Hawaii Island
HONOLULU – SMS Research & Marketing Services will be surveying families on Oahu
and Hawaii Island on what they are paying for rent. The Hawaii Housing Finance and
Development Corporation (HHFDC), Hawaii Public Housing Authority, and Counties of
Honolulu and Hawaii have commissioned the survey.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually publishes Fair
Market Rents based on data from the U.S. Census. HUD’s Fair Market Rents are used
to set pricing for many federally subsidized programs, including Section 8 Housing
Choice Vouchers, that help low-income families obtain and keep safe, decent and
sanitary housing.
Proposed HUD 2018 Fair Market Rents will decrease from 2017.
“Voucher holders already have a difficult time finding safe, decent and affordable rentals
within the range of HUD Fair Market Rents. Decreasing Fair Market Rents will worsen
the situation especially in high rent areas such as West Hawaii,” said Neil Gyotoku,
Hawaii Island Housing Administrator.
The information collected will be used to support the State’s request to HUD to re-
evaluate the 2018 Fair Market Rents for Oahu and Hawaii Island.
“HUD’s Fair Market Rents are also used to determine Difficult to Develop Areas (DDAs)
under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program,” said Craig K. Hirai, executive
director of HHFDC. Rental housing projects located in a DDA can receive additional tax
credits, and therefore, increase financial feasibility.”
The rent surveys will be mailed to selected households and be short. Non-renters need
only answer one question, but the agency is asking everyone to answer the survey for
accurate results. Data will be not used for any other purpose and kept strictly
confidential. Only county-wide average rents will be reported to HUD and individual
responses will be destroyed at the end of the project.
Media Contact:
Kent Miyasaki
Housing Information Specialist
Hawai‘i Housing Finance
and Development Corporation
(808) 341-4069
Kent.K.Miyasaki@hawaii.gov.
http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hhfdc/