The Hawaiʻi Office of Planning and Sustainable Development (OPSD) is applying for a $9.9 million grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program, which will help generate thousands of new affordable homes in Hawaiʻi.
The HUD PRO Housing grant program aims to reduce barriers to affordable housing production by helping local communities address infrastructure challenges and land use and regulatory barriers. The grant awards range from $1 million to $10 million.
The state’s application for the grant is available for viewing at https://governor.hawaii.gov/housing/.
According to OPSD, whose partners include the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority, the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Governor’s Housing Team, the application will help unlock the production of at least 10,800 new housing units within the next six years. Over time and with additional infrastructure, the proposal aims to unlock up to 30,000 new units.
The proposal will specifically address the following:
- Increase capacity to address eight key barriers in producing affordable accessible housing, including inadequate infrastructure, land use restrictions, zoning, and other regulatory, administrative and legislative barriers;
- Create new financing mechanisms, including a Statewide Infrastructure Bank, to expand the available funds for infrastructure and housing construction; and
- Accelerate the strategic deployment of critical infrastructure to unlock at least 10,800 desperately needed housing in each of the four counties.
As part of its application process, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development will accept public comments from now through Oct. 18, 2023.
Comments can be emailed to gov.housing.testimony@hawaii.gov or mailed to:
Housing Teamc/o Office of the Governor415 S. Beretania Street, Suite 415Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
An in-person and virtual public hearing will be on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. (HST) at the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation’s meeting room. The address is 677 Queen Street, #300, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, 96813.
Individuals wishing to join via computer or mobile app can go to: https://zoom.us/join and enter the meeting ID: 891 7282 6626 and passcode: 849424.