In the wake of the collapse of the city’s sale of its housing inventory earlier this year, the Honolulu City Council was able to closely look at and review the details and condition of these properties.
The sale included 12 city-owned affordable housing projects totaling $142 million. The buyer’s inability to secure financing for the project ultimately led to the termination of the deal, but also revealed underlying concerns by the communities and the residents of the respective properties.
The Council discovered that a number of the tenants were paying rent far below the minimum amount set by federal guidelines, and a number of these properties are in disrepair and in need of major renovations. As was stated to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser ("Council leaders rethink sale of housing," July 10), it may be time to re-evaluate the sale and think of a better system of managing these properties.
One idea the city should seriously consider is either re-establish a housing department or, as an introductory step, expand the mayor’s existing Office of Housing, to maintain the city’s housing inventory. The expanded office could further review the feasibility of the city’s ability to manage the finances and renovations of the properties. It could also determine if more subsidized housing — which only government is willing to provide — is necessary to not only address homelessness but prevent it as well.
It’s clear that currently the properties are being mismanaged and falling further into disrepair due to lack of maintenance. A housing department or an expanded Office of Housing with a qualified staff and established rules and regulations has the potential to create an improved and efficient system to manage the properties.
The Council’s review also revealed that Honolulu is in need of more affordable housing, especially for low-income residents. In the current budget, the Council appropriated more than $47 million to address homelessness on multiple fronts. Despite these efforts, the sale of the city’s housing inventory runs the risk of displacing a number of working tenants with no alternative form of housing. In addition, an aggressive plan to renovate living quarters and update infrastructures would attract commercial retailers.
Currently, the Council is considering Bill 6 (2014), submitted by the city administration, which would approve the issuance of a request for proposal to purchase a long-term lease for nine of the 12 properties. The Council is also considering Resolution 14-121, CD1, which would establish Council policy for the prospective buyers and/or developers of the 12 properties.
At the last meeting of the Council, the two measures were removed due to Chinatown community members’ inability to attend the meeting at Windward Community College. The concern among the city administration, as well as Councilmembers, to postpone consideration of these measures is understandable.
But while the city is purchasing units to address homelessness with one hand, and before it sells its affordable housing units with the other, we must at least discuss and consider all options in order to ensure that no tenants are displaced and add to an already increasing homeless population.
