NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT
On the Draft Substantial Amendment No. 2 to the
PY2023 Annual Action Plan
In August 2023, as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 11364a(c)(1), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made a special allocation of $1,339,404 in Emergency Solutions Grant (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 “Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing” (RUSH) funding under the ESG Program was 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 (FEMA’s) determination that this disaster was severe enough to activate its TSA program.
For the State of Hawaii, through the Department of Human Services’ Homeless Programs Office (DHS HPO) to receive a second allocation ESG RUSH funds, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) must submit, for HUD’s approval, a second substantial amendment to the State’s Program Year 2023 (PY2023) Annual Action Plan (AAP). 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.
DHS-HPO consulted with Bridging the Gap (the Continuum of Care representing the neighbor island counties), local governments, and members of the public to identify the following activities:
As established in the first ESG RUSH allocation, the second ESG RUSH may also be disbursed in the rural counties of Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai, and the City and County of Honolulu, and will continue to provide time-limited housing support, financial assistance, and stabilization services. In addition, the second allocation will include outreach services to qualifying homeless or at-risk individuals and families in areas affected by the Hawaii Wildfires, as well as oversight of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and administration costs. To provide immediate assistance to families and individuals experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness in areas affected by the Hawaii Wildfires, the second allocation of ESG RUSH funding is anticipated to be used as follows:
o The sum of $69,258 or 1% of the total grant amount will be used for HMIS oversight responsibilities, including HMIS data entry for newly-awarded organizations to help with Continuum of Care data quality, timeliness and reporting, adherence to Coordinated Entry System requirements, and HMIS policies and procedures.
o The sum of $519,437 or 7.5% of the total grant amount will be used for administrative costs, which includes oversight to ensure compliance with program requirements and expenditure thresholds and deadlines. DHS-HPO will retain $69,258, or 1% for administration purposes. The balance of $450,179, or 6.5% shall be allocated to providers.
o DHS-HPO anticipates that approximately $770,000, or 11% of the remaining grant amount (less administrative and HMIS costs) will be used to provide outreach services in the counties of Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai.
o DHS-HPO anticipates that approximately $5,567,137, or 80.5% of the remaining grant amount (less administrative and HMIS costs) will be used to provide time-limited housing support, financial assistance, and stabilization services for eligible homeless and precariously housed families and individuals.
DHS-HPO will incorporate HUD’s prior approval of necessary pre-award costs for efficient and timely performance of eligible RUSH activities. Covered pre-award costs are those incurred between and including the date of ESG RUSH award notification and the date immediately preceding the start date of the period of performance/budget period for the grant. DHS-HPO may request reprogramming of funds necessitated by community need.
All other aspects of the PY2023 AAP and Substantial Amendment No. 1 will remain the same.
To review a copy of draft Substantial Amendment No. 2 to the PY2023 AAP, 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) 974-4000, 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
Department of Human Services, Homeless Programs
Benefits, Employment and Supportive Services Division
1010 Richards Street, Suite 312; Honolulu, Oahu
Interested persons are invited to provide written comments on the draft Substantial Amendment via email to HHFDC.ConsolidatedPlan@hawaii.gov by May 29, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. All written comments will be considered in preparing the final Substantial Amendment.
If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability (e.g., needing a copy of the draft Substantial Amendment No. 2 in large print, Braille, electronic copy, or tape recorded), contact HHFDC’s Human Resources Office by phone at (808) 587-0501, by mail at the above address, or by email to hhfdchr@hawaii.gov to ensure the availability of appropriate accommodations. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled. Persons on the Neighbor Islands may call the following toll-free numbers:
From Oahu: (808) 587-0577
From Kauai: (808) 274-3141, ext. 70577
From Hawaii Island: (808) 974-4000, ext. 70577
From Maui: (808) 984-2400, ext. 70577
From Molokai/Lanai: 1-800-468-4644, ext. 70577
Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy.
HHFDC does 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
Executive Director
(SA1455696 5/24/24)
