image from video by David Corrigan

(BIVN) – A new contract, and a rent increase, has some tenants of the Kula’imano Elderly Housing Project concerned.

A few of the Pepe’ekeo residents living at the project testified from Hilo during the Hawaii County Council meeting on October 18, explaining how the rent increase will impact them, and how repairs, maintenance, and tighter security is needed at the elderly housing complex.

Council chair Valerie Poindexter said she and the tenants have been meeting with the county to work out some of the issues.

The council voted to approve the resolution (354-17) to replace the current Housing Assistance Payment Contract between the Hawai‘i County Housing Agency and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with a new 20-year contract, which will adjust the HUD-approved monthly contract rate to $700. The new contract will commence on November 1, 2017.

The language of the resolution:

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

WHEREAS, the County Hawaii wishes to enter into an agreement to with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and

WHEREAS, this agreement would be to replace the current Housing Assistance Payment Contract between the Hawaii County Housing Agency and HUD which would be terminated by mutual agreement; and

WHEREAS, the agreement provides funds for federal monthly rental assistance on behalf of eligible individuals selected for tenancy at the Kula’imano Elderly Housing Project; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 46- 7, requires that County departments obtain the consent of the council to enter into agreements with the federal or state governments respecting action to be taken pursuant to any of the powers granted by law to furnish, expend, and receive any funds or other assistance in connection with projects being or to be undertaken pursuant to those powers; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII, in accordance with section 46-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that the Mayor of the County of Hawaii is authorized to execute, on behalf of the County, an agreement and related documents with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to receive funds as indicated above.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk of the County of Hawaii shall transmit copies of this resolution to the Office of the Mayor and the Office of Housing and Community Development

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk of the County of Hawaii shall transmit copies of this resolution to the Office of the Mayor and the Office of Housing and Community Development.