Are you looking for affordable housing in Hawaii? The good news is that there are a variety of government programs available to help. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides federal funding for Hawaii County to manage housing voucher programs. An eligible family that receives a voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit that the landlord agrees to rent under the program. HUD also helps apartment owners offer reduced rents to low-income tenants.
To apply, contact or visit the management office of each apartment building you are interested in. The City of Hawaii also offers financial benefits, such as fee waivers and grants, and can relax certain development regulations, such as height and surface limits, to encourage developers to voluntarily build affordable housing. The City's Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) regulates affordable housing units built as part of market-driven developments (as opposed to government-funded and planned housing). Chapter 32 of the ROH establishes flexible development rules and financial incentives for affordable rental housing (ARH) projects, as long as a minimum of 80% of housing units are rented to people who earn no more than 100% of the Honolulu Area Median Income (AMI) for a minimum of 15 years.
The DPP Multifamily Rental Housing Program (the “Program”) will issue tax-exempt bonds for private activities (PAB) to facilitate the increase and preservation of the supply of affordable rental housing, maintain a quality living environment, leverage private sector funds to the fullest extent possible, and promote the City's affordable housing objectives. The DPP can approve and certify the GET exemption to any qualified individual or company participating in a moderately or substantially renovated affordable housing project. Each year, the City releases its maximum income and rent guidelines for affordable housing, which are based on figures published by the section entitled “Public Housing Vouchers and Housing Choice” in the United States (section). To apply for any type of help, visit your local Public Housing Agency (PHA).
Download the application forms for the certification of newly built or renovated housing projects or the certification of rents received in affordable rental housing projects, as appropriate, online on the affordable housing page. This program, known as the city's affordable housing requirement, requires affordable housing in residential complexes of 10 or more units for sale, with a few exceptions. If you're looking for an affordable place to live in Hawaii, there are plenty of government programs available to help you out. From HUD vouchers to tax-exempt bonds from the DPP Multifamily Rental Housing Program, there are plenty of options available.
Be sure to check out your local Public Housing Agency for more information on how you can get help with finding an affordable place to live.
