Hawai'i County is offering a second round of grants intended for aiding homelessness and housing assistance.
"We strongly encourage organizations to look at the ways this funding can support their programs and services that play a vital role in protecting and uplifting some of the most vulnerable members of our community," Housing Administrator Susan Kunz said. "Together, we can make real progress toward ensuring homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring on Hawai'i Island."
The Office of Housing and Community Development within the County of Hawai'i is inviting eligible non-profit organizations, educational institutions engaged in research and governmental agencies to submit proposals for access to a portion of the $10 million allocated for Homelessness and Housing Support Grants. According to the County, this financial provision is intended to contribute to initiatives that are focused on homelessness and housing matters on Hawai'i Island, encompassing services, operations and programs.
"We strongly encourage organizations to look at the ways this funding can support their programs and services that play a vital role in protecting and uplifting some of the most vulnerable members of our community," Housing Administrator Susan Kunz said. "Together, we can make real progress toward ensuring homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring on Hawai'i Island."
As reported by the County, the initial phase of Homelessness and Housing Fund grants took place in the Spring of 2023. The Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) managed a pool of 31 submissions originating from 21 distinct non-profit entities. The combined funding requests exceeded $25 million, significantly surpassing the allocated budget. After a thorough evaluation procedure, OHCD ultimately allocated more than $7.5 million to support 16 projects addressing homelessness and housing on Hawai'i Island, benefiting a total of 13 non-profit organizations.
Those interested in applying can access the Request For Proposals (RFP) and associated materials via the Office of Housing and Community Development website. Submissions, required to be in electronic format, should be submitted by Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. HST. To gather more insight, virtual information sessions are planned for August 10 at 2:30 p.m. and August 14 at 1 p.m. Further information regarding registration can be located on the OHCD website.