HHFDC wins national recognition for quickly standing up Maui housing relief program

HHFDC Housing Finance Manager David Oi and Executive Director Dean Minakami accept the NCSHA Award of Excellence for Special Achievement in Phoenix on October 1.

The Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) has received recognition from national housing experts  for standing up the Hawaiʻi Fire Relief Housing Program just days after last year’s wildfires that destroyed much of Lahaina and other parts of Maui.

The program was established at the request of Governor Josh Green, M.D., who asked HHFDC to move expeditiously on the program to help the families, couples and individuals who lost loved ones, their homes, jobs and other cherished aspects of their lives.

The Award of Excellence for Special Achievement was announced by the National Council of State Housing Agencies at its annual meeting in Phoenix last week. The award recognizes programs and practices that respond in an outstanding manner to an important state need, have a significant impact on the community and cut across traditional program lines.

Approximately 600 families found immediate housing through the program, which provided those displaced by the disaster with shelter options from a pool of roughly 1,400 properties that were offered by neighbors on Maui and elsewhere.

HHFDC put the call out to homeowners on Maui and throughout Hawaiʻi to make available their vacant homes, bedrooms and even spare beds. This information was dropped into an electronic database that allowed the survivors to view the options available to them at a glance.

To see the full press release, go here. 


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What’s new at HHFDC?
  • PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE to hear and consider comments concerning the proposed issuance of Multi-family Housing Revenue Bonds.
    • A public hearing will be held on the proposed issuance on October 10, 2024, at 8 a.m. at the HHFDC Board Room at 677 Queen Street, Suite #300.
    • To view the public hearing notice and learn details of the proposal, go here. 
  • PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE (virtual only) on the proposed simultaneous repeal and adoption of Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) relating to the Hula Mae Single Family Program and the Downpayment Loan Program. For details, go here. 
    • A virtual public hearing will be held on October 30, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. on the proposed simultaneous repeal and adoption of Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) relating to the Hula Mae Single Family Program and the Downpayment Loan Program.
    • Specifically, HHFDC is proposing that HAR Chapter 15-161, relating to the Hula Mae Single Family Program, be repealed and that HAR Chapter 15-314, also relating to the Hula Mae Single Family Program, be adopted; and that HAR Chapter 15-169, relating to the Downpayment Loan Assistance Program, be repealed and that HAR Chapter 15-317, relating to the Downpayment Loan Program, be adopted. 
    • The existing and proposed language for both programs can be found on HHFDC’s Hawaii Administrative Rules page here.
  • PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE for the existing Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC) and proposed amendments to it. For details, go here. 
    • A public hearing on the existing Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC) will take place Friday, October 25, 2024,10:30 a.m. at the HHFDC Board Room at 677 Queen Street, Suite #300.
    • The proposed QAP is to be effective for 2025.
    • Those wishing to comment on the QAP during the conference call are requested to give prior notice to HHFDC by sending an email to [email protected] no later than 4:30 PM HST the day before the hearing. Those wishing to submit written comments should do so by sending them to the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation at the email address shown above.
    • A copy of the QAP with the proposed amendments is available for review on the HHFDC QAP landing page website here.
  • PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE (for Kauaʻi County) on a five-year Consolidated Plan (CP) covering Program Years (PY) 2025 through 2029 (PY2025-2029) and an Annual Action Plan for PY 2025, as part of the consolidated planning process.
      • A virtual public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 2 p.m. and an in-person public hearing is scheduled for Monday, October 14, 2024, at the Moikeha Building, Meeting Room No. 3, 4444 Rice Street, Līhuʻe, Kaua’i. 
      • The purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to ensure that jurisdictions receiving federal assistance plan for the housing and related needs of low- and moderate-income families in a way that improves the availability and affordability of decent, safe, and sanitary housing in suitable living environments. To receive funding under certain U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, the State must have a housing strategy that has been approved by HUD.
      • Information on the Kauaʻi County public hearings is here.
      • The 5- year Consolidated Plan Informational Packet and the Program Year 2025 Annual Action Plan are here.
  • PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE (for Kauaʻi County) on a five-year Consolidated Plan (CP) covering Program Years (PY) 2025 through 2029 (PY2025-2029) and an Annual Action Plan for PY 2025, as part of the consolidated planning process.
    • A virtual public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 2 p.m. and an in-person public hearing is scheduled for Monday, October 14, 2024, at the Moikeha Building, Meeting Room No. 3, 4444 Rice Street, Līhuʻe, Kaua’i. 
    • The purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to ensure that jurisdictions receiving federal assistance plan for the housing and related needs of low- and moderate-income families in a way that improves the availability and affordability of decent, safe, and sanitary housing in suitable living environments. To receive funding under certain U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, the State must have a housing strategy that has been approved by HUD.
    • Information on the Kauaʻi County public hearings is here.
    • The 5- year Consolidated Plan Informational Packet and the Program Year 2025 Annual Action Plan are here.
  • PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE (for Maui County) on a five-year Consolidated Plan (CP) covering Program Years (PY) 2025 through 2029 (PY2025-2029) and an Annual Action Plan for PY 2025, as part of the consolidated planning process.
    • A virtual public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. and an in-person public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 10 a.m. at the J. Walter Cameron Center, Conference Room #1; 95 Mahalani Street; Wailuku, Maui.
    • The purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to ensure that jurisdictions receiving federal assistance plan for the housing and related needs of low- and moderate-income families in a way that improves the availability and affordability of decent, safe, and sanitary housing in suitable living environments. To receive funding under certain U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, the State must have a housing strategy that has been approved by HUD.
    • Information on the Maui County public hearings is here.
    • The 5- year Consolidated Plan Informational Packet and the Program Year 2025 Annual Action Plan are here. 
  • The 2025 Qualified Allocation Plan Landing Page is now live! Go here to view the first draft and related materials, as well as to sign up for the 2025 QAP Announcements Email List! 
  • Looking for somewhere to rent? Both the Affordable Housing Inventory List and the Affordable Housing Inventory Locator Map have been updated! Go here.
  • Notice of Public Comment Period: For the draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) 2023-2024. Go here.
    • Draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), Program Year 2023. Go here.
  • NEWS RELEASE (8/5/24): The state opens the doors at the newly renovated Hale ‘O Lā‛ie complex in Kīhei for the first of up to 150 Maui families displaced by last year’s wildfires. To learn more and/or to sign up, go here: More details about the overall Hawaiʻi Interim Housing Program (HIHP) initiative can be found here.

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Ililani

VACANT UNITS REMAIN AVAILABLE AT AFFORDABLE-WORKFORCE ILILANI FOR-SALE CONDOMINIUM TOWER IN  KAKAʻAKO!!!

See this inspiring 3-minute video documenting the construction of this historic project!


HHFDC Views
Governor Josh Green, M.D., and other government officials joined the developers of the Ililani condominium project to celebrate the completion of the 328-unit project on May 17.
 
Ililani boasts 328 total units, with 197 deemed affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments. The development at Keawe and Pohukaina streets provides crucial housing opportunities for local families in the heart of one of the fastest growing neighborhoods on Oʻahu.
 
“Making housing more affordable for working class families so they can realize their dream of owning their first home is so heartwarming and will go a long way in addressing the affordable housing crisis,” Green said.
 
HHFDC reviewed, approved and transmitted the developer’s application requesting exemptions from several developer fees and charges to the Honolulu City Council, which subsequently approved the exemptions. Similarly, a number of exemptions from zoning and land-use regulations were granted with the concurrence of the state Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority.
 
Units remain available for purchase. Prices for one-bedroom units start at $477,500 and two-bedroom units cost as little as $582,100. Find more information at https://liveililani.com/.

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For a list of the state’s Planned/In Construction affordable and workforce housing projects, go here: 

                                                                                                            Hale O Piʻikea (Kīhei, Maui)

Equal Housing Opportunity

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