Statewide meetings to look at affordable housing issues

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

A state Senate task force will hold fact-finding public meetings statewide next month as it prepares legislative proposals to address affordable housing needs during the upcoming session.

The task force is headed by Sen. Ron Menor, D-17th (Mililani, Waipi'o), who is also chairman of the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing Committee.

Affordable housing is slated to be one of the top issues when the Legislature convenes Jan. 19.

Gov. Linda Lingle, who has said the issue is a priority, established her own task force on affordable housing earlier this year.

In the past six months, Lingle has signed a bill increasing the bond authorization ceiling for the Hula Mae Multi-Family Housing Program by 50 percent and proposed opening more state lands for affordable housing.

Meanwhile, the House has established a new Housing Committee that will be headed by Rep. Mike Kahikina, D-44th (Nanakuli, Honokai Hale).

Menor said he wants to be able to work with the administration and the House in providing housing opportunities for Hawai'i's people.

Among the proposals that could be considered by the Senate task force, Menor said, are tax incentives for affordable-housing developers; increasing the amount of state money available for private developers; rental supplements and vouchers; making state lands available; and providing state support for roads, utilities or other infrastructure.

The first of the meetings will be at 9 a.m. on Jan. 4 in Conference Room 16 at the Capitol.

Other meetings will be: 6 p.m. Jan. 4 in the Maui Economic Opportunity Center Conference Room; 6 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Hawai'i County Council chambers; 6 p.m. Jan. 7 in the Kealakehe High School cafeteria; and 6 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Kaua'i County Council chambers.

Linda Smith, Lingle's senior policy adviser, said the governor's task force has split into three focus groups since the summer, looking into accelerating the regulatory and permitting processes, ways of meeting infrastructure needs, and incentives for affordable housing financing. Smith said the Senate task force and the House Housing Committee are good signs that lawmakers are working on meaningful affordable housing legislation this session.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.