What is Public Housing?

1. Economic Self Sufficiency: Provide incentives to families with children where the head of household is working; is seeking work; or is preparing for work by participating in job training, educational programs, or programs that assist people to obtain employment and become economically self sufficient.
2. Housing Choice: Increase housing choices for eligible low income families.
3. Efficient Operations: Reduce cost and achieve greater cost effectiveness in federal expenditures.

1. Very Low Income: 75% of families assisted must be very low income, 50% of the AMI
2. Reasonable Rent Policy: Reasonable rent policy to encourage employment and self sufficiency.
3. Substantially the Same: Assist substantially the same total number of eligible low income families as would have been served absent participating in the demonstration.
4. Comparable Mix: Maintain a comparable mix of families (by family size) as would have been provided had the amounts not been used under the demonstration.
5. Housing Quality Standards (HQS): Housing must meet Housing Quality Standards.

Cohort #4: Landlord Incentive:

• HPHA would implement selected landlord incentives designed to attract or increase the number of landlords in the HCV program, which would provide more housing options for voucher holders.
• Eligible PHAs that apply for Cohort #4 will be put into a highly competitive lottery. If selected for the MTW program under Cohort #4 in the lottery, HPHA would implement the landlord incentives and HUD would evaluate their impact for 4 years.
• If HPHA applies for the MTW designation and is not selected for the MTW program under Cohort #4, HPHA must agree to participate in HUD’s evaluation of landlord incentives for 4 years as part of the control group, but will not receive the MTW designation under Cohort #4.

1. Vacancy Loss Payment between HCV tenants

HPHA could pay a landlord up to one month of contract rent as reimbursement for time the unit spent vacant in between HCV participants (Tenant based vouchers only).

• This incentive is aimed at getting landlords to continue to participate and offer their units in the HCV program.
• This incentive is also intended to pay the landlord for delays in the lease up process that are out of the landlord’s control, or if the landlord is making repairs or upgrades to the unit before renting to another Section 8 tenant.

2. Front end Vacancy Loss Payment

HPHA could pay a landlord up to one month of contract rent as reimbursement for time the unit spent vacant when the previous tenant was not an HCV participant (Tenant based vouchers only).

• This incentive is aimed at attracting new landlords to participate in the HCV program, or getting existing HCV landlords to make additional units available for HCV tenants.
• This incentive is also intended to pay the landlord for delays in the lease up process that are out of the landlord’s control, or if the landlord is making repairs or upgrades to the unit before renting to the new Section 8 tenant.

3. Signing Bonus

HPHA could provide an incentive payment, or “signing bonus”, of up to one month of contract rent to incentivize landlords to join the HCV program (Tenant based vouchers only).

• This incentive is aimed at attracting new landlords to the HCV program in order to achieve HPHA’s leasing goals for its HCV participants, such as properties in high opportunity neighborhoods or in areas where vouchers are difficult to use.
• This incentive is intended to increase the number and type of units available to HCV tenants in line with HPHA’s leasing goals as they may change from time to time.

Core Goal 1: Economic Self-Sufficiency

• Provide incentives to families with children where the head of household is working; is seeking work; or is preparing for work by participating in job training, educational programs, or programs that assist people to obtain employment and become economically self sufficient.

Core Goal 1: Challenges and Opportunities

• Cultural and geographic diversity
• Unique job training and job readiness needs/opportunities
• Need wraparound supportive services for our residents/participants
• Focus on Youth development

Example of Economic Self-Sufficiency

• Job training and vocational training programs for unique Hawaiian industries, high demand jobs in Hawaii, virtual job opportunities.
• Work readiness training.
• Wrap around case management and service referrals.
• Focus on Youth development educational and vocational training, homework help, tutoring, clubs and activities, recreation, mentoring, early childhood parent/child activities.
• Incentive accounts to encourage work, savings, and wealth development.
• Financial incentives for achieving training and educational goals
• These programs can be made possible through MTW funding flexibility.

Core Goal 2: Housing Choice

• Increase housing choices for eligible low income families.

Core Goal 2: Challenges and Opportunities

• Extreme Housing Affordability/Availability
• Pressures (limited affordable housing inventory)
• Preserve HPHA’s affordable housing
• Increase housing options

Example of Housing Choice

• Mobility counseling for HCV participants
• Increased payment standards for high opportunity neighborhoods
• Landlord recruitment and retention incentives
• Increased use of Project Based Vouchers (PBVs) in high opportunity neighborhoods
• Rehab and modernize existing housing portfolio
• Preserve and develop mixed income housing units

Core Goal 3: Effective Operations

• Reduce cost and achieve greater cost effectiveness in federal expenditures.

Core Goal 3: Challenges and Opportunities

• Streamline administrative processes for PH and HCV programs, reduce burden on residents/participants.

Example of Efective Operations

• Increased flexibility to the PBV program: selection, increase # of PBVs, increase PBV contract lengths
• Streamlining HQS inspection process: Pre qualifying unit inspections, self certifying minor violations to HQS, reduced frequency of HQS inspections
• Simplifying rent calculations
• Alternative re examination schedule

Applicant must meet the following:

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• Income is within the limits set forth by HUD (Yearly Gross Income): [refer to table above]
• Must be 18 years old or older, single, or a family of two or more individuals who intend to live together as a family unit and whose income and resources are available to meet their needs.
• No outstanding balance due to HPHA.
• Personal conduct will not be detrimental to the project or its residents.
• Not been a former tenant evicted since March 1, 1985.
• Meet the occupancy requirements set forth by HPHA.

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NOTE: Hawai'i's Public Housing does not condone drug usage. The Hawaii Public Housing Authority does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, sex, disability, familiar status, national origin, religion, or any other non-merit factors.

The Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act (QHWRA) Act of 1998 requires Public Housing Agencies receiving federal public housing and/or Section * Housing Choice Voucher funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to submit a Public Housing Agency (PHA) 5-Year and Annual Plan to HUD each year. The 5-Year Plan states the mission, goals, and objectives for serving the needs of low-income and very low-income families. The Annual Plan details policies on the operations and management of the HPHA's housing programs such as housing needs eligibility and admissions, financial resources, rent policies, community service and saftey, capital fund improvements, and designation/disposition of housing.

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Click here for detailed information on HPHA's PHA plans.

The QHWRA of 1998 allows residents of "federal" public housing to have household pets as long as the residents follow the pet ownership and procedures established by the public housing agency. HPHA has established a pet application process and pet rules for residents of federal public housing to follow. Before a resident is allowed to have a pet in the unit, the resident must comply with the application process to allow the pet into the housing project. Residents must contact their project manager for more specific instructions on pet ownership before bringing a pet into their unit. Service animals for the elderly and/or disabled are exempt from the procedures. See your project manager for information on service animals.

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Click here to see the current HPHA Pet Policy.

Being a federal public housing project, the current improvements at the Kalihi Valley Homes are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Capital Fund Program (CFP). Each year HUD awards public housing authorities grants based on a formula to accomplish capital improvements and management activities for their federal housing projects. The State also provides matching Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds appropriated through the State Legislature utilizing state issued general obligation or revenue bonds. Funds from the CFP grants can be used for a variety of uses:

• Redesign, reconstruction, and reconstruction of public housing projects.
• Vacancy reduction.
• Deferred maintenance use and replacement of obsolete utility systems and equipment.
• Planned code compliance.
• Management improvements.
• Demolition and replacement of housing units.
• Resident relocation during housing reconstruction.
• Accessibility (ADA) compliance
• Abatement of hazardous materials (HazMat)
• Health and Safety improvements
• Upgrade of deteriorating infrastructure (power, gas, water, sewer, etc.)

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To see the latest Capital Fund Annual Reports and 5-Year Plan, click here.

If you were denied for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program assistance, you may submit a written request for an "informational review within 15 days from the date of HPHA's notification of denial of assistance." If you were denied for the public housing program, you may request an "informal hearing within 14 working days from the date of notification of ineligibility."

You can cal the HPHA's Fair Houisng Officer at 808-832-4690 or TDD 808-832-6083 or email at hpha@hawaii.gov.

Yes, a person with a disability is covered under the Fair Housing laws. A single parent with children (under the age of 18) would also be covered under the air Housing laws. The federal and State laws protect individuals or families on the basis of race, color, sex, ancestry/national original, disability, familial status (a family with children under the age of 18), religion, age, marital status, HIV infections, or sexual orientations and gender identity.

You will NOT be placed in a waiting list for an accessible unit or offered one unless you specifically apply for an accessible housing unit that is appropriate for you. You must indicate on the application form the type of unit you are seeking. If an accessible unit is NOT requested on your form, one will NOT be offered to you nor will be forced to accept an accessible unit.

You must visit your Project Management Office and inform the HPHA personnel that you would like to request for a reasonable modification to you unit because of your disability. A form will be given to you to complete and return to the Management Office. HPHA will consider al request for reasonable modification and will pay for the modification unless it is an under financial or administrative burden.

You may ask your landlord for a reasonable accommodation to install an alert light when the foor bell or phone rings. If your husband's disability and the nee for the alert light is confirmed by a third part (i.e., you doctor), your landlord is obligated to allow you to install the alert light, but you must par for the light and its installation.

You should contact the HPHA's Fair Housing Officer at 808-832-4690 or TDD 808-832-6083 or hpha@hawaii.gov.

No written complaint is needed. You can contact the HPHA's Fair Housing officer at 808-832-4690 or TDD 808-832-6083 or hpha@hawaii.gov.