Honolulu Field Office Newsletter
Winter 2006

Na Hana Ku Aloha �Achieving Through the Spirit of Aloha�	Volume 7 Issue 1

Regional Director Keynotes National Conference on High Cost Areas, Honolulu, HI
A standing room only audience kicked off the Honolulu Field Office's successful National Conference on Affordable Housing in High Cost Areas held at the Sheraton Waikiki, November 29-December 1, 2005. Regional Director Richard Rainey provided the luncheon keynote address on the Department's initiatives to remove barriers to affordable housing. Approximately 400 people registered and participated, representing a broad cross-section of community stakeholders including: Lt. Governor Duke Aiona; Alan Arakawa, Mayor of the County of Maui; Sen. Ron Menor, Sen. Gary Hooser, and Rep. Mike Kahikina, three key decision-makers involved in the Legislative Task Force for Affordable Housing; Council members from Maui and Kauai; staff of Hawaii's Congressional delegation; nonprofit and for-profit developers; service providers; and affordable housing advocates. The urgency of Hawaii's affordable housing crisis is reflected in the 150 attendees that met several times during the conference to pursue the development of a statewide coalition of stakeholders to tackle the creation of a workable affordable housing strategy. Plans are underway - post conference - to continue the shaping of an effective and productive response to the crisis. For information on becoming a member of the coalition, contact Mark Chandler at (808) 522-8180 ext 264.

FHA Mortgage Limits Increase
Effective October 19, 2005, the maximum FHA mortgage limits increased for Hawaii and Maui Counties. New limits are as follows: Hawaii County - One Family $391,850, Two-Family $441,350, Three-Family $536,250 and Four-Family $618,750; Maui County - One Family $469,342, Two-Family $575,650, Three-Family $699,400 and Four-Family $807,000. The new limits represent a 3 to 12 percent increase from previous limits that were increased in June. Effective January 1, 2006, the maximum mortgage limits also increased for Honolulu County: One Family $544,185, Two-Family $658,106, Three-Family $799,568 and Four-Family $922,578. These increases reflect Hawaii's current active real estate market. These higher mortgage limits will enable more individuals to obtain adequate FHA financing contributing to homeownership in the State. For FHA mortgage limits on the web go to the FHA mortgage limits page (https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicost1.cfm)

First Hawaii Faith-Based Community Initiatives Conference Galvanizes Discussion
The Hawaii Faith-Based Community Initiatives (FBCI) Conference held on October 17, 2005, coordinated by the State of Hawaii Faith-based liaison was a success from the many comments of participants. Sponsored, in part, by Federal and State agencies, 450 people attended and heard from Governor Linda Lingle and other speakers about the White House Initiative. The conference included five tracks on community priority issues identified by a faith-based focus group. HUD staff, with the assistance of USDA, moderated the track on �Sheltering the Homeless and Feeding the Hungry� with �experts� speaking on Root Causes, Best Practices/Successful Partnerships, and Networking. Over 125 people participated, shared their community stories, networked with others, and developed a list of recommendations to the Governor on how to use Hawaii's budget surplus to address the needs of the homeless and community food security issues. An expo was held as part of the event.

HUD Funding in 2005
A number of local organizations received funding through HUD in the past year. Below is a recap of programs and organizations that received funding.

Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency/Resident Opportunities and Self -Sufficiency (ROSS)
Funding of $43,700 allows the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH) to hire a program coordinator who links public housing residents with training opportunities, job placement organizations and local employers. Residents sign a contract to participate, which outlines their responsibilities towards completion of training and employment objectives up to a five-year period. For each participating family that is a recipient of welfare assistance, HCDCH must establish an interim goal that the family becomes independent from welfare assistance and remain independent from welfare assistance at least one year prior to the expiration of the contract. During the period of participation, residents may earn an escrow credit based on increased earned income, which they may use in a variety of ways, including continuing their education or down payment toward purchasing a home. For more information, contact Jeanne Hamilton of HCDCH at (808) 587-3182.

Resident Service Delivery Models for Elderly and Disabled/ROSS
Funding helps HCDCH ($450,000) and Kokua Kalihi Valley ($375,000) provide the coordination of services for the elderly and persons with disabilities, including transportation to medical appointments, shopping, and health and wellness programs. These services allow these individuals or families to live independently. For more information, contact Jeanne Hamilton at (808) 587-3182.

Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency (HCV/FSS)
HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency (HCV/FSS) program provides funds to public housing agencies to hire FSS program coordinators. FSS coordinators link adults who receive rental assistance through the HCV program to local organizations that provide job training, childcare, counseling, transportation and job placement. Some of the awardees received funding to hire a homeownership coordinator who assists families with getting the information and resources they need to find a lender and homeownership counseling. Grants were awarded to: City and County of Honolulu $117,035, County of Hawaii $63,000, Housing & Community Development Corporation of Hawaii $54,824, Kauai County Housing Agency $109,316.

Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) Grants
The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii received $220,000 to assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination. FHIP organizations partner with HUD to help people identify government agencies that handle complaints of housing discrimination. They also conduct preliminary investigation of claims, including sending "testers" to properties suspected of practicing housing discrimination. Testers are minorities and whites with the same financial qualifications that evaluate whether housing providers treat equally qualified people differently.

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA)
Maui AIDS Foundation in Wailuku was awarded a HOPWA permanent supportive housing renewal grant of $1,381,120 to continue its work in providing tenant based housing throughout the state outside the island of Oahu. The program provides short-term support, housing information, and supportive services such as case management, nutritional services, and mental health counseling to persons living with HIV/AIDS. The program will provide 73 families with tenant based rental assistance, and 40 households will receive short-term rental assistance in efforts to prevent homelessness. Maui AIDS Foundation is working in partnership with Malama Pono (Kauai AIDS Service Agency), the West Hawaii AIDS Foundation, and the Big Island AIDS project to serve the neighboring islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Hawaii, and Kauai.

Rural Housing and Economic Development Innovation
The Heritage Ranch, Inc. in South Kona received a Rural Housing and Economic Development Innovative grant award of $400,000. This award will be used to foster rural innovation and preservation through education and community facility project development. Significant contributions to local rural economic development include employment training in fields having an unmet regional demand resulting in dynamic new sustainable businesses requiring new jobs. It will also include assisting small rural farms and businesses to increase sales and number of employees and offer classes and exhibits on rural innovation tools and technologies at its center. Proposed leveraging for this proposal is over $982,500.

Continuum of Care Supportive Housing Program (SHP)
SHP helps develop housing and related supportive services for people moving from homelessness to independent living. Program funds help homeless people live in a stable place, increase their skills or income, and gain more control over the decisions that affect their lives.

Shelter Plus Care (SPC)
Shelter Plus Care (SPC) provides rental assistance that, when combined with social services, provides supportive housing for homeless people with disabilities and their families. The program allows for a variety of housing choices such as group homes or individual units, coupled with a range of supportive services (funded by other sources).

Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG)
The Emergency Shelter Grants program provides homeless persons with basic shelter and essential supportive services. It can assist with the operational costs of the shelter facility, and for the administration of the grant. ESG also provides short-term homeless prevention assistance to persons at imminent risk of losing their own housing due to eviction, foreclosure, or utility shutoffs.

New Staff Arrives at Honolulu Field Office

Mei Tong - Public and Indian Housing Mei joined HUD in January 2005 from the Navy where she was a budget analyst. Mei says, �Being a financial analyst at Office of Public Housing has been very interesting, exciting and challenging. I enjoy working with the troubled housing agencies, reading, spending time with my 2-year old daughter, and traveling....especially to Guam�.

Rebecca Borja - Community Planning and Development Prior to Rebecca's employment with HUD, she was employed as a Planner at the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA). During her eight and a half years at GHURA, she obtained experience in preparing and managing federal grant applications and knowledge of financial and program management practices pertaining to federal grants. She managed projects funded by the Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnership Grant, Emergency Shelter Grant, and Continuum of Care grants. She witnessed the positive impacts that HUD funds have made in her island of Guam and is happy to be working for an organization committed to improving the lives of low and moderate-income individuals and families.

Kashiko Tomomitsu - Customer Service/Receptionist Kashiko joined HUD in March to serve in the reception area answering calls and greeting visitors. Kashiko is a native of Hawaii with 35 years working on the mainland. One of Kashiko's interests is learning the Native Hawaiian language. You might try her knowledge out with a word or two when you call.

Ruth Suzuki - Customer Service/Receptionist Ruth joined HUD in June to serve in the reception area answering calls and greeting visitors. Ruth is a lifelong resident of Hawaii and has served in a variety of clerical positions including the State of Hawaii and the Social Security Administration. Ruth has a great sense of humor that may catch you off guard.

Al Carter - Field Policy and Management Al comes to Honolulu from the Phoenix Field Office where he held the same position as operation specialist as he does in Honolulu. In 1998 Al started with HUD as a community builder fellow. While in Phoenix he worked on a major redevelopment effort in an area of Phoenix known for its poverty, high crime rates, slums and blight. Today the area is undergoing extensive revitalization with over a $100 million in investment.

Coming Up
SUPERNOFA - A new round of grant opportunities
Renewal
Please remember that even if you registered through Grants.gov during the previous funding cycle, you MUST register again to apply this year. Applicants are required to renew/update their information in CCR on an annual basis. If you do not renew, your registration will expire.

New Registrant If you are interested in applying for funding during our FY06 grant cycle and are a new registrant, you must first register with Grants.gov.

Registering will provide you with the information you need to successfully submit your application using the new electronic submission process implemented last year through Grants.gov.

Applicants must use the new electronic submission process if they wish to apply for government funding from any agency.

To read more about this process, please download the Early Registration Notice (PDF)

The Appendix walks you step-by-step through the process so you know what to expect as a new registrant or as an annual renewal.

February 3, 2006 A capacity building workshop for faith-based and community organizations. Topics include working with the HUD website, accessing census information, and using dataplace.org. Contact the HUD receptionist at (808) 522-8175.

February 22, 2006 - Workshop �Greening of Affordable Housing� presented by Southface Energy Institute. Workshop Topics: How to apply the Green Communities� criteria to greening affordable housing projects; Cost and no cost green strategies; Hawaii BuiltGreen