PAHOA » Hawaii County is planning to spend $650,000 on 32 micro-housing units for chronically homeless people.

West Hawaii Today reports North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff sponsored a bill to include funding for the units in the capital budget ahead of possible state aid.

Gov. David Ige pledged $1.3 million for homeless outreach through July. Fund eligibility requires contracts to be signed by Feb. 23.

Five years ago, the county paid an undisclosed amount of taxpayer money to move 19 buildings across the island after Catholic Charities Hawaii closed its transitional housing facility. A privately funded effort is ongoing to house people in those units, which have become dilapidated and bear graffiti.