NOTICE OF VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING
For consultation on the Department of Human Services’
Homeless Programs Office’s second allocation of
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) funds

Pursuant to 24 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, notice is hereby given that the State of Hawaii (State) Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC); and the Department of Human Services Homeless Programs Office (DHS-HPO) will prepare Substantial Amendment No. 2 to the Annual Action Plan (AAP) for Program Year 2023-2024 (PY2023). In preparation for Substantial Amendment No. 2, HHFDC and DHS-HPO will consult with Bridging The Gap, the Continuum of Care covering the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui; local governments; and members of the public on the utilization of a second allocation of Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) funds through a virtual public hearing as follows:

Virtual Public Hearing:
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

Join on your computer or mobile app: See Notice of Public Hearing on HHFDC’s website at www.dbedt.hawaii.gov/hhfdc
Or call in (audio only): +1 (669) 444-9171

For virtual and call in access: Meeting ID: 844 7600 7651,
Passcode: 668978

In August 2023, as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 11364a(c)(1), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated $1,339,404 in ESG funding to the State of Hawaii to address the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness, or families or individuals at risk of homelessness in areas affected by a major disaster declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) on December 20, 2019, whose needs are not otherwise served or fully met by existing Federal disaster relief programs, including the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program under such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b). This allocation of ESG RUSH funds was made available in response to the President’s major disaster declaration dated August 10, 2023, DR-4724-HI, for the Hawaii Wildfires, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s determination that this disaster was severe enough to activate its TSA program.

For the State of Hawaii, through DHS-HPO, to receive a second allocation ESG RUSH funds, HHFDC must submit a second substantial amendment to the State’s PY2023 AAP for HUD’s Approval. This substantial amendment proposes to amend the PY2023 AAP to include DHS-HPO’s second ESG RUSH allocation of approximately $6,925,832 and eligible activities.

ESG RUSH funding may be disbursed in the counties of Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai; and the City and County of Honolulu, and may provide time-limited housing support, financial assistance, and stabilization services to individuals experiencing homelessness or families or individuals at risk of homelessness in areas affected by the Hawaii Wildfires. In addition, the second allocation of ESG RUSH funding will be utilized for outreach and emergency shelter activities, oversight of the Homeless Management Information System, and administrative costs.

Other aspects of the PY2023 AAP will remain the same.

To review a copy of this Public Hearing Notice, interested parties may 1) download an electronic copy from HHFDC’s website at http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/hhfdc, 2) view a copy at public libraries (subject to their respective hours of operation), 3) email a request to view a paper copy to hhfdc.consolidatedplan@hawaii.gov, or 4) call one of the toll-free numbers listed below to receive viewing instructions:

From Oahu: (808) 587-0577
From Kauai: (808) 274-3141, ext. 70577
From Hawaii Island: (808) 974-0000, ext. 70577
From Maui: (808) 984-2400, ext. 70577
From Molokai/Lanai: 1-800-468-4644, ext. 70577

Finally, a paper copy will be available for viewing by visiting one of the agencies listed below between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday (except for weekends and State holidays).

AGENCIES:
Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation
677 Queen Street, Suite 300; Honolulu, Oahu

Interested persons are invited to attend the virtual hearing and state their views, orally or in writing, related to the utilization of ESG RUSH funds toward eligible activities in areas affected by the Hawaii Wildfires.

Written testimony may also be submitted via email to hhfdc.consolidatedplan@hawaii.gov, by U.S. mail to HHFDC; 677 Queen Street, Suite 300; Honolulu, Hawaii 96813; or by fax to (808) 587-0600 by 4:30 p.m. prior to the hearing. Comments and testimony received will be considered in preparing the State’s Substantial Amendment No. 2 to the PY2023 AAP.

If access or communication assistance and/or services (e.g., large print, taped materials, sign language interpreter, or translator) are required to participate in this virtual public hearing, please contact HHFDC’s Human Resources Office at (808) 587-0501, by email at hhfdchr@hawaii.gov, by fax at (808) 587-0600, or by written request at least seven business days before the hearing. Prompt requests help to ensure the availability of appropriate accommodations. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate/accessible formats.

HHFDC and DHS-HPO do not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, familial status, ancestry, age, marital status,
or HIV status.

Dean Minakami, HHFDC Executive Director

(SA1451592 4/18/24)