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 http://www.honolulu.gov/nco/nb8/06/08_2006_06HHComm Min.pdf

McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board No. 8 

HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS

COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Care a Van Program Office

1640 S. King Street

CALL TO ORDER: The committee meeting was called to order  by Committee Chair Larson at 7:00.m.

NB #8 MEMBERS PRESENT:    Betty Lou Larson, Scott Cheever, Clifton Takemura

COMMUNITY MEMBERS:                      Darlene Hein (Waikiki Health Center Care a Van)

SECRETARY PRO-TEM:                        Minutes were taken by Betty Lou Larson.

CITY & COUNTY INITIATIVES:

1. Discussion on City Charter Amendment for ˝% of property tax for affordable housing and another ˝% for land protection.  It will be on the ballot and community education is needed.  Funds could be leveraged for greater impact.
2. County will also get $2 M from Legislature for homeless services.  City & State are working to replicate the Kakaako homeless shelter in other areas (possibly Waipahu, Waianae).
3. CDGB grant is going to Affordable Housing Alliance & its partners to do outreach/expand services to homeless by developing volunteer service centers (e.g. at churches or other community sites).

Action: 

1. Chair Larson to ask NB#8 Chair to put a presentation on the Charter Amendment onto the agenda for September or October (as time permits).  Larson to arrange speaker.

HOUSING INITIATAIVES FOR 2006 LEGISLATURE: very good success with NB #8 testifying as well as many providers for homeless issues, etc.

1.                   Housing Omnibus Bill provided $ for many initiatives, including:

a.       Funding to each county ($2 M for Oahu) for new homeless services

b.       50% of Conveyance Tax to Rental Housing Trust Fund (for 1 year only)

c.       $5 M for homeless services on state level.  E.g. Care a Van will expand services at its current site.

d.       $5 M for Uluwehi housing project in Waianae (transitional/emergency and some permanent rental units)

e.       $10 M to repair vacant public housing (or repair housing for use as emergency/transitional housing).

f.         Approved $1/year lease of state land to non-profits for affordable housing

g.       NOT passed:  Board member brought up issue of homeless man he met who needs a safe place to park his car.  Legislature discussed creating “safe zones” for homeless but appears the City & State were not interested in this concept.

2.                   Action:  Scott asked Darlene Hein to write a short description of Care a Van services that could be attached to these minutes (or presented at a NB meeting so more can learn of their work).

OTHER HOUSING/HOMELESS ISSUES:  Preservation:  Discussed need to preserve affordable housing in our area.  Many are 2-3 story walk-ups.  Some are being torn down and properties made into higher priced housing.  Some may need to be torn down (poor condition), but members see a need to keep new development as affordable.  Other buildings are in good condition.  Discussed need to encourage owners to sell buildings in good condition to non-profits to keep the units as affordable rentals.  Need mid-rise, infill projects vs. high-rises.  (We don’t need to find/implement solutions, but want to work with other groups/State, etc.)

FUTURE ACTION:

1.                   Larson to ask the new State housing finance agency (HHFDC-Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corp.) to look at the preservation issue.

2.                   Larson to ask Housing Hawaii (a new housing coalition) to look at the preservation issue and possibly do some research on what has worked in other cities.

3.                   Suggest that NB #8 develop an email list vs. only a mailing list.  Then perhaps a newsletter could be sent out more than 1x/year (due to cost).  IF more newsletters are possible, Cheever suggested that one might focus on affordable housing, resources, etc.

4.                   Committee to publicize one resource to find affordable housing:  The Oahu Housing Guide is a database of all affordable elderly and family projects and many shelters on Oahu only.  It is available via the internet at a city website:

a.       FOR HOUSING RESOURCES:  go to www.elderlyaffairs.com

                                                               i.      Scroll down/find “Oahu Housing Guide”.

NEXT MEETING:   Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Care-A-Van Program, 1640 S. King Street.

ADJOURMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Submitted by:

Betty Lou Larson

Secretary Pro-Tem