Hawaii's State Legals & Public Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT
on a Draft Substantial Amendment to the State of Hawaii’s
Consolidated Plan for Program Years 2015 through 2019
and
on the Draft Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2016

Pursuant to 24 CFR Part 91, the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC), Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, State of Hawaii, gives notice: 1) of a proposed amendment to the State of Hawaii’s Consolidated Plan for Program Years 2015 – 2019 dated May 15, 2015 (5-Year CP), and 2) that a draft Annual Action Plan (AAP) for program year July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 (PY2016) has been prepared. The HHFDC is making both documents available for review and comment.

The purpose of the Consolidated Plan and the AAP 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.

Substantial Amendment to the 5-Year CP
The HHFDC administers HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program, and prepared the 5-Year CP to prepare for proposed projects and programs supported with HOME funds. The 5-Year CP is available for review at regional libraries and may be accessed from HHFDC’s website at http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hhfdc/files/2015/07/CONSOLIDATED-PLAN-PY-2015-2019.pdf. To provide additional affordable housing opportunities, HHFDC proposes to amend the 5-Year CP to include the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) program, as provided by 24 CFR, Part 93, Interim Rule. The HTF is a new federal affordable housing production program that will complement existing federal, state and local efforts to increase and preserve the supply of decent, safe and sanitary affordable housing for extremely low-income and very low-income households, including homeless families. HTF funds may be used for the production or preservation of affordable housing through the acquisition, new construction, reconstruction, and/or rehabilitation of non-luxury housing with suitable amenities. HHFDC’s HTF allocation plan is incorporated into the proposed Substantial Amendment to the State of Hawaii’s Consolidated Plan for Program Years 2015-2019.

Draft PY2016 AAP
The proposed PY2016 AAP consists of 1) a strategic plan for the provision of affordable and special needs housing, and prevention of homelessness; and 2) an action plan including available resources and description of the State’s method for disbursing funds to local governments and non-profit organizations to carry out activities to address the priority of needs.

The proposed Substantial Amendment to the State of Hawaii’s Consolidated Plan for Program Years 2015-2019 and the draft Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2016 are available for public review at regional libraries and are posted on HHFDC’s website at http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/hhfdc. Interested persons may call Medy Esmena at 587-0634; Neighbor Island residents may call toll free at the numbers listed below, to be mailed copies:

From Kauai: 274-3141, ext. 70634 From Hawaii: 974-4000, ext. 70634
From Maui: 984-2400, ext. 70634 From Molokai/Lanai: 1-800-468-4644, ext. 70634

Copies are also available at the following officesfrom 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
County of Hawaii, Office of Housing and Community Development
50 Wailuku Drive, Hilo, Hawaii

County of Maui, Department of Housing and Human Concerns
35 Lunalilo Street, Suite 102, Wailuku, Maui

County of Kauai, Kauai County Housing Agency
4444 Rice Street, Suite 330, Lihue, Kauai

Department of Human Services, Homeless Programs Office
820 Mililani Street, Suite 606, Honolulu, Oahu

State of Hawaii, HHFDC
677 Queen Street, Suite 300, Honolulu, Oahu

City and County of Honolulu, Department of Community Services
715 S. King Street, #200, Honolulu, Oahu

Interested persons are invited to provide written comments on the proposed Substantial Amendment to the State of Hawaii’s Consolidated Plan for Program Years 2015-2019 and the draft Action Plan for PY2016 to HHFDC at the aforementioned address by April 16, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. Written comments may also be submitted via fax to (808) 587-0600 or emailed to hhfdc.consolidatedplan@hawaii.gov by 4:00 p.m. on April 16, 2016. All written comments will be considered in preparing the final Substantial Amendment to the State of Hawaii’s Consolidated Plan for Program Years 2015-2019 and Annual Action Plan for PY2016.

If access or communication assistance and/or services (e.g., large print or taped materials) are required, please contact HHFDC’s Personnel Office at 587-0610, by written request, or by email to anna.k.snellgrove@hawaii.gov by March 24, 2016. Prompt requests help to ensure the availability of appropriate accommodations. Persons on the neighbor islands may call the following toll free numbers:

From Kauai, 274-3141, ext. 70610 From Hawaii, 974-4000, ext. 70610
From Maui, 984-2400, ext. 70610 From Molokai & Lanai, 1-800-468-4644, ext. 70610

HHFDC does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, familial status, ancestry, age, marital status, or HIV infection.

Craig K. Hirai, HHFDC Executive Director
(TGI855710 3/17/16)