LIHU‘E — If all goes according to plan, the Pua Loke Affordable Housing Project will be available for move-in next summer.
The $27.5 million project will consist of three residential buildings containing 53 housing units with a preference to Kaua‘i residents. But some members of the Kaua‘i County Council believe the county can go further to ensure that county residents are given the opportunity to live there.
Since the project uses federal funds, it stipulates how the money is used, Housing Agency Director Adam Roversi explained to the council.
“We’re required by the federal government (on who) we put in the housing, what income levels people who are being placed in that housing have to be in, and so forth,” Roversi said. “The federal government controls what we can do with that money.”
Vice Chair Ross Kagawa said he was not satisfied with the residency requirement alone and asked for a way to ensure the units were not going to transplants and prioritizing housing for families with children in school. “It’s heartbreaking to see students that have to deal with trying to get an education while under a homeless situation,” he said.
According to a Point-In-Time Count on January 22, 2020, the state reported 6,458 houseless individuals (over 400 on Kaua‘i), many Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders.
During the discussion, councilmember Felicia Cowden offered her experience visiting county parks and speaking with those sheltering in place.
“When I go tent to tent down there, most of them are unaware of the Pua Loke Affordable Housing or the project right adjacent to it that has a higher risk therapeutic housing,” Cowden said.
That therapeutic housing is the Kealaula on Pua Loke, a 22 unit supportive housing for families experiencing houselessness. The project has a maximum occupancy of 60 individuals. Roversi explained this development is not yet ready for applicants or move-ins, but should be in August.
“Are we able to go down there and sign up these people so … that some of these people are in line for housing?” Cowden said. “Is that something that we can do?”
Cowden said she has been requesting this to the Housing Agency for the past two months.
The county works with the Kaua’i Community Alliance to maintain a system that creates a running list of houseless individuals with contact information and financial documents to qualify to these projects, Roversi said. He said there were 55 people on this list before COVID-19.
The county was awarded $1.425 million in funds from the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) Program Year 2018 for the Pua Loke Affordable Housing project.
The Housing Agency plans to put $1.35 million to Pua Loke Housing Partners, LP for the project, and then the remaining $75,000 to the Housing Agency for the administration of the program.
Overall, the county has only allocated about $700,000 funds toward the project.
These unused HTF funds were initially given to the city and county of Honolulu. Roversi said one of the requirements for receiving the funds was that it be used for a “shovel-ready project ready to go.”
Pua Loke will accept those earning 60% of the median income, with a few units allowing up to 80%. As of May 2020, the median household income is $101,800.
An application process will open up next year, Roversi anticipates.
Council Chair Arryl Kaneshiro said he’s hopeful of the project.
“Get a roof over these families heads and break the cycle of homelessness,” Kaneshiro said.
•••
Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
