NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT
ON AMENDMENTS TO
THE STATE OF HAWAII ACTION PLAN FOR PROGRAM YEAR 2008-2009

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 of a proposed amendment to the State of Hawaii Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2008-2009 (2008 Action Plan). The purpose of this amendment is to permit pre-awards of up to twenty-five percent of a county’s current program year’s allocation of HOME Investment Partnerships program (HOME) funds for eligible activities in order to avoid the interruption of projects and/or services. A pre-award greater than twenty-five percent would require approval by the local HUD Field Office.

The 2008 Action Plan is available for review at regional libraries and may be accessed from HHFDC’s website at www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/hhfdc. The 2008 Action plan presents a strategy for the investment of federal HOME Investment Partnerships, Emergency Shelter Grant, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS funds to address the affordable and supportive housing needs of low- and moderate-income households in the Counties of Hawaii, Kauai and Maui. The 2008 Action Plan reported that $3,013,037 in PY 2008 HOME funds and $1,807,741.38 in other HOME funds (such as program income and recaptured funds) would be used for eligible HOME activities and projects for the 2008 Action Plan period.

Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 92, Subpart E, §92-212, Pre-award Costs, allows participating jurisdictions (such as the State of Hawaii) to incur costs which may be charged to the HOME allocation after the award of the HOME allocation but before the effective date of the HOME Investment Partnership Agreement. Pre-award costs are limited to twenty-five percent of the current HOME allocation; pre-award costs exceeding twenty-five percent requires the approval of the HUD Field Office before the costs are incurred.

Participating jurisdictions may authorize State recipients (the Counties of Hawaii, Kauai and Maui) (the “Counties”) to incur pre-award costs in accordance with HOME requirements. The authorization must be in writing. The inclusion of language allowing pre-awards will help the Counties to avoid the interruption of service and/or projects supported by HOME funds.

Revisions to the 2008 Action Plan
It is proposed that page 1 of the 2008 Action Plan be amended to include the following new language, shown below in bold italics, pertaining to pre-awards under the HOME program:

“HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS (HOME) PROGRAM

The State anticipates receiving $3,013,037 in HOME funds for the Program Year 2008-09 (2008 Program Year), which includes $13,037 in American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) funding. Approximately $989,345 will be allocated to each of the Counties of Hawaii, Kauai and Maui (State Recipients under the State’s HOME Program). In addition, the State has identified $1,807,741.38 in other HOME funds available for use in the 2008 Program Year. As such, a total of $4,820,778.38 in HOME funds is available for use in eligible activities/projects for the 2008 Action Plan period. The State of Hawaii will permit pre-awards of up to twenty-five percent of a county’s current program year’s allocation for HOME-eligible activities in order to avoid the interruption of projects and/or services. Pre-awards must be authorized in writing by the State of Hawaii before pre-award costs are incurred. Pre-award costs greater than twenty-five percent will require approval by the local HUD Field Office before the costs are incurred.”

Interested persons are invited to state their views on the amendments to the 2008 Action Plan beginning on January 8, 2009. Please provide comments in writing by February 6, 2009 to the HHFDC at 677 Queen Street, Suite 300, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813, Attn: Planning and Evaluation Office. Written comments may also be submitted via fax to (808) 587-0600 by 4:30 p.m. on February 6, 2009. A summary of the comments received and a summary of any comments not accepted by the HHFDC and the reasons therefore, will be attached to the amended 2008 Action Plan.

Persons with special needs (i.e., needing proposed amendments to the 2008 Action Plan in large print or taped) shall make all requests for access and communication assistance by contacting the HHFDC Personnel Office at 587-0501, by written request, or by email to donna.m.dizon@hawaii.gov at least 10 business days before the end of the comment period. Prompt requests submitted help to ensure the availability of appropriate accommodations. Persons on the Neighbor Islands may call the following toll free numbers:

From Hawaii, 974-4000, ext. 70501
From Kauai, 274-3141, ext. 70501
From Maui, 984-2400, ext. 70501
From Molokai and Lanai, 1-800-468-4644, ext. 70501

The 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.