NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
AND REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR
THE COUNTY OF HAWAII’S 2024 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT (CDBG), HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP (HOME),
HOME-AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (HOME-ARP) &
NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND (HTF) PROGRAMS
The County of Hawaii’s Office of Housing & Community Development (OHCD) and the State of Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) is beginning its 2024 Consolidated/Action Plan process for the aforementioned programs. As required by federal regulations, the County, in conjunction with the State, will hold public hearings on the following dates:
Virtual Public Hearing via Zoom In-Person Public Hearing
August 10, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. August 23, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
To register, go to 1990 Kinoole Street, Suite 104
https://tinyurl.com/3tyeyps2 Hilo, Hawaii 96720
The purpose of these Public Hearings is to hear views and comments from citizens on housing and community development needs and the past performance of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) CDBG, HOME, and HTF programs.
The County encourages its citizens, especially persons of low- and moderate-income, minorities and non-English speaking persons, as well as persons with disabilities, to participate in the Public Hearings and share their comments and views.
Persons requiring special accommodations may call the OHCD at 808-961-8379 at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the hearings so arrangements can be made. Citizens who are unable to attend these hearings may submit by e-mail testimony pertaining to their housing and community development needs by August 23, 2023 to Susan Kunz, Housing Administrator, at ohcdcdbg@hawaiicounty.gov.
The County’s five-year 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan (CP) describes the County’s housing and community development needs, funding plans, priorities and objectives, and includes the County’s Annual Action Plan for the use of CDBG/HOME/HTF program funds. The County of Hawaii is, therefore, seeking project proposals from eligible applicants to include in its 2024 Annual Action Plan to HUD.
CDBG PROGRAM:
The goal of the CDBG program is to encourage the development of viable communities by providing decent housing, suitable living environments, and expanding economic opportunities for persons of low- and moderate-income. The County expects to receive approximately $2,600,000 in Program Year 2024.
For more information on CDBG program criteria, eligibility requirements, and program objectives, please visit www.hawaiicounty.gov/cdbg.
CDBG project proposals will only be accepted electronically through an online application platform which will be available on the OHCD website www.hawaiicounty.gov/cdbg starting September 1, 2023 and will be due by 4:30 p.m. on November 15, 2023.
HOME PROGRAM:
The purpose of the HOME program is to expand the supply of decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing for very low and low-income persons. HOME program funds are allocated on a three (3) year rotation basis between the three neighboring Counties and Hawaii County is next to receive approximately $3,000,000 through HHFDC. For more information on program criteria, eligibility requirements, and program objectives, please visit www.hawaiicounty.gov/homeprogram.
HOME-AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (HOME-ARP):
HOME-ARP was established under section 3205 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2). These funds are administered by the County through HHFDC whose HOME-ARP allocation plan provides for the distribution of HOME-ARP funds for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or construction of affordable rental housing primarily for “Qualifying Populations.” The total amount of HOME-ARP funds to be allocated to Hawaii County is $1,977,568. For more information on program criteria, eligibility requirements, and program objectives, please visit www.hawaiicounty.gov/home-arp.
NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND (HTF):
The HTF program is intended to be a locally administered program to increase and preserve the supply of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing, with primary attention to rental housing for extremely low-income and very low-income households at or below 30% of the area median income, including homeless families. The HTF program funds are allocated on a three (3) year rotation basis between the three neighboring Counties and Hawaii County is next to receive approximately $1,500,000 through HHFDC. For more information on program criteria, eligibility requirements, and program objectives, please visit www.hawaiicounty.gov/htf.
All HOME, HOME-ARP, and HTF original project proposals and two (2) copies must be received by 4:30 p.m. on November 15, 2023, by the OHCD at the following locations:
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND OFFICE OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Kinoole Plaza West Hawaii Civic Center
1990 Kinoole Street 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
All project proposals will be available starting September 1, 2023 at the OHCD website at https://www.housing.hawaiicounty.gov/. HOME, HOME-ARP, and HTF proposal forms can be e-mailed upon request. All project proposals are due by 4:30 p.m. on November 15, 2023.
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COUNTY OF HAWAII
By: Susan Kunz
Housing Administrator
Mitchell Roth, Mayor
County of Hawaii
(WHT1423188 7/20/23)
