During Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth’s recent State of the County address, he shared that the County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) had significantly increased the number of housing units “in the pipeline” from about 1,000 to over 5,000. This was one measure of progress toward addressing the housing crisis plaguing Hawaii County. During Waimea Community Association’s hybrid Town Meeting from 5:30-7 p.m., Thurs., April 6, 2023 at Tutu’s House, OHCD Housing Admnistrator Susan Kunz will share more details about the agency’s multi-pronged approach to the county and statewide housing crisis, which is effectively squeezing many island residents and even forcing some to relocate outside the state.
During Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth’s recent State of the County address, he shared that the County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) had significantly increased the number of housing units “in the pipeline” from about 1,000 to over 5,000. This was one measure of progress toward addressing the housing crisis plaguing Hawaii County. During Waimea Community Association’s hybrid Town Meeting from 5:30-7 p.m., Thurs., April 6, 2023 at Tutu’s House, OHCD Housing Admnistrator Susan Kunz will share more details about the agency’s multi-pronged approach to the county and statewide housing crisis, which is effectively squeezing many island residents and even forcing some to relocate outside the state.
All are welcome to attend the Waimea Town Meeting in person. The meeting will also be streamed “live” to the association’s Facebook page and to WCA’s YouTube channel. To access it on YouTube, go to WCA’s website www.WaimeaTown.org for a link on the home page. As always, the meeting will be recorded to both Facebook and YouTube for on-demand viewing thereafter. Also as always, questions are welcome – ideally in advance by emailing WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com. Questions may also be submitted in writing in person at the meeting or typed into the chat to be addressed as time permits.
This is Ms. Kunz first meeting with Waimea residents since returning to OHCD. Most recently she served as the Executive Director for Big Island Housing Foundation, where she managed six senior and multi-family affordable housing properties. Ms. Kunz had previously served as the Housing Administrator, Assistant Housing Administrator, Grants Management Division Manager and Housing Specialist for the County of Hawaii Office and an Employment Service Specialist for the State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. She came to her current job with over 21 years of experience in the public and non-profit sectors. Ms. Kunz will review the county’s recently authorized Affordable Housing Production Program, which “aims to increase, support, and sustain the supply of affordable rental and owner-occupied housing.
This program was authorized by an ordinance passed by the County Council and signed into law by Mayor Roth in June 2022. The ordinance appropriates at least $5M annually. Attendees will be asked to participate in an affordable housing online survey to assist the county in making “informed decisions about the future of our program,” said Ms. Kunz. The survey may be accessed at surveymonkey.com/r/LLH2QMV. Community members are also invited to email OHCD to be added to their email list to receive periodic updates: ohcd.ahp@hawaiicounty.gov.
Also joining the town meeting will be Hawaii County Council Chair Heather Kimball, and representatives of South Kohala Community Policing who will provide a brief public safety update. Council member Kimball will discuss housing and other priorities issues for the council.
Sharing the meeting’s not-for-profit spotlight will be Shirley DeRego representing the Alex and Duke DeRego Foundation, which memorializes her two late sons with an ocean safety program that partners with many of the island’s most experienced water men and women to introduce life safety and ocean awareness to the island’s youth, including all Waimea schools. As the spotlighted not-for-profit, attendees will be urged to support the foundation’s programs with a tax-deductible contribution either at the in person meeting or via their website. This will be WCA’s fourth hybrid town meeting since the start of the pandemic in April 2020 when meetings went virtual. For more info about the meeting or community association, email WCA President James Hustace at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or go to WaimeaTown.org.
