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| Pahala Elderly is one of two affordable housing projects in Ka'u. There are none listed as in the pipeline. Photo from Hawai'i County |
TRACK AND FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THIS ISLAND is the call from County of Hawaiʻi, with the launch of a new online tool to help residents track and find affordable housing projects. In Kaʻū there are two existing affordable projects - for the aged and disabled. Kaʻū and South Kona are the only two Districts with no new affordable housing in the pipeline according to the Dashboard.
The aim of the County of Hawaiʻi Affordable Housing Dashboard is to provide a user-friendly interface where residents can easily view details such as project location and income limits, as well as status updates for the over 8,100 units in the affordable housing pipeline and thousands of existing rental units. "This information is crucial for residents interested in understanding the availability and accessibility of housing options within their communities," says a statement from the county.
The aim of the County of Hawaiʻi Affordable Housing Dashboard is to provide a user-friendly interface where residents can easily view details such as project location and income limits, as well as status updates for the over 8,100 units in the affordable housing pipeline and thousands of existing rental units. "This information is crucial for residents interested in understanding the availability and accessibility of housing options within their communities," says a statement from the county.
One of two projects listed in Kaʻū as affordable housing is Pahala Elderly senior housing with 24 units for those applicants for housing with up to 80 percent of the Average Medium Income. Operated by Hawai'i Public Housing, units are available to income-qualified seniors ages 63 years and older. Applicant household income "must not exceed the limits provided by the property manager," says the description on the dashboard. To apply, contact 808-333-0474. It shows no units available.
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| Weinberg Hale Kupaa, for Special Needs residents is one of two affordable housing projects in Ka'u listed by the County. |
"Our commitment to enhancing housing opportunities for all residents of Hawaiʻi Island is unwavering. This new online tool reflects our dedication to transparency and accountability, ensuring that residents have the information they need to participate in the dialogue about housing development in our County," said Housing Administrator Susan Kunz.
The landing page of the two-page dashboard presents an affordable housing overview of the County's existing affordable housing units and projects planned for future development. Drop-down menus allow the user to choose the data they want to see for each property. The second page uses graphics to present additional project metrics in a clear and simplified way.
Built entirely in-house by staff from the Department of Information Technology and Office of Housing and Community Development, the County of Hawaiʻi Affordable Housing Dashboard utilizes an array of information provided by various County and State agencies and non-profit and for-profit developer partners.
Future phases will incorporate additional data that will provide the opportunity for more detailed conversation with the community regarding affordable housing to support residents as the County works to build a stronger, vibrant community where all can work and play, and thrive together.
"Our team has worked tirelessly to fulfill our promise of creating affordable housing opportunities for local families," said Mayor Mitch Roth. "This dashboard showcases our progress, increasing the housing pipeline from just over 1,200 homes to over 8,100. We hope residents use this technology to track our
According to the 2019 Hawai'i Housing Planning Study, the County of Hawai'i needed to add 10,796 affordable housing units by 2025 to meet the community's needs.
Since taking office in late 2020, Roth's administration through the Office of Housing and Community Development has worked with partner developers to increase the number of units in the affordable housing pipeline from about 1,200 units to over 8,100 units. By the end of 2024, the administration will have overseen the completion of over 500 affordable housing units for local families.
The County of Hawaiʻi Office of Housing and Community Development is responsible for the planning, administration, and operation of all County of Hawai'i housing programs. Its mission is to provide for the development of viable communities through decent housing, suitable living environments and expanded economic opportunities.
More information on the Office of Housing and Community Development and its programs can be found online at www.housing.hawaiicounty.gov. To receive news alerts and OHCD's quarterly newsletter, click here. Also connect with OHCD on Facebook and Instagram.
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| Michelle Galimba |
THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS BILL is the main focus of County Council member Michelle Galimba's recent newsletter. She notes that the Council is considering and amending Bill 121. A number of amendments that addressed concerns passed the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and
Development. Some amendments clarified language but many addressed substantive concerns, such as the need for a notarized affidavit of meeting health, safety and code requirements. Instead of the notarized affidavit, a simple declaration will be required. Find the amendments put forward by co-author Council Chair Heather Kimball at https://www.hawaiicountytar.com/
At the end of its meeting, the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Development postponed further consideration of Bill 121 until Aug. 20, when more amendments will be taken up. Galimba advised her constituents "Please do let me know if you have specific concerns that can be addressed by amendments to Bill 121. This is an important piece of legislation and we want to hear your feedback and to answer any questions you may have. As always please do not hesitate to contact us at the District 6 office!."
