- NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
- KAUAI COUNTY HOUSING AGENCY
- COUNTY OF KAUAI
- NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Kauai County Housing Agency (KCHA), pursuant to Chapter 91-3 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, will hold a public hearing on the County’s revised Administrative Plan for the Housing Choice Voucher Program effective 7/1/2024. The public hearing will be held at the Kauai County Housing Agency on the following date, time and place.
- When: Friday, May 15, 2024 at 10:00AM
- Where: Pi`ikoi Building – Boards and Commission Conference Room
- 4444 Rice Street, Suite 300
- Lihue, HI 96766
- The Housing Choice Voucher Program provides financial assistance to eligible families whose annual gross income does not exceed 50 percent of Kauai’s median income guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). Through rental assistance, families are able to live in safe, decent and sanitary housing they would not otherwise be able to afford.
- The revised Administrative Plan comprises required updates and program changes mandated by HUD as well as local policies that KCHA is seeking to implement. The proposed revisions include:
- Adoption of additional waitlist preferences to include a preference for in-place families.
- Adoption of the Final Rules for The Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA) HOTMA was signed into law on July 29, 2016 and amends Sections 3, 8, and 16 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, which includes significant changes to income calculation, met family assets, and income reviews. HUD finalized HOTMA rulemaking in 2023 to put Sections 102, 103, and 104 into effect through revisions to HUD’s regulations found in 24 CFR Part 5 and 24 CFR Part 981. The Final Rules is effective January 1, 2024. Kauai County Housing Agency will meet compliance to this rule on July 1,2024, as required by HUD regulations.
- Adoption of the implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE). NSPIR’s final rule established a new approach to defining and assessing housing quality to strengthen HUD’s physical condition standards and improve HUD oversight through the alignment and consolidation of the inspection regulations used to evaluate “HUD housing” as defined in 24 CFR 982.401, across multiple programs. Federal register 66 FR 66882 requires PHAs to implement the NSPIRE final rule that ensures residents of HUD housing lives in safe, habitable dwellings by October 1, 2024. NSPIRE replaces the Housing Quality Standards (HQS), as previously defined in 24 CFR 982.401, as the inspection standard for housing programs.
- Adoption of Special Housing Type, Group Home, that voucher holders can utilize as an allowable housing type. (Section 15-III.A)
- All interested persons are invited to attend and to state their views on the revised administrative plan either orally or in writing. Written testimonies prior to the hearing will be accepted and appreciated. The Kauai County Housing Agency will fully consider all written and oral submissions and will make a decision with respect to those comments submitted at the public hearing.
- Copies of the revised Administrative Plan are available for review to any interested person at the Kauai County Housing Agency between the hours of 8:00AM and 4:00PM, Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays. Copies of the revised Administrative Plan will also be provided digitally to any interested person and are available online at www.kauai.gov/housing starting April 15, 2024 until May 15, 2024. Questions, comments or requests for additional information may be directed to Jennifer Toguchi, Program Manager at jtoguchi@kauai.gov; via phone at (808) 241-4440; or by mail at 4444 Rice Street, Suite 330, Lihue, HI 96766. Comments or questions must be received by 4:00PM on Wednesday, May15, 2024 to be considered.
- Accommodations for persons with disabilities, persons requesting auxiliary aides or materials in a different format and interpreters for non-English speaking citizens will be available at all public hearings and sessions upon written request five business days prior to the meeting date by contacting Jennifer Toguchi at (808) 241-4440.
- Adam P. Roversi
- Housing Director
- Kauai County Housing Agency
- (TGI1451508 4/15/24)
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