Office of Affordable Housing
The Office of Affordable Housing (OAH) was established within the Office for Social Ministry to address the issues of homelessness in the State of Hawaii by helping to increase the stock of affordable housing in our islands. OAH is assisted by the Coordinating Task Force on Homelessness and Affordable Housing, a cadre of appointed volunteers who assist the Church to pursue its goals relating to affordable housing and homelessness.
Hawaii experiences a severe shortage of affordable housing amongst all its islands; our housing deficit is estimated to be over 30,000 units. Assuming cost of construction of new units is estimated at $250,000, Hawaii currently experiences a $7.5 billion housing deficit:
Housing need: 30,000 units
Cost per unit: $250,000
Housing Shortfall: $7,500,000,000
The housing deficit has been devastating to low and middle-income families in our state:
• Number of sheltered homeless increased 35%, from 5,648 in 2006 to 7,649 in 2010
• Number of unsheltered homeless increased 63%, from 4,884 in 2006 to 7,974 in 2010
• An additional 358,669 residents are considered at-risk or hidden homeless, sharing homes with others or at risk of losing their homes
• Hawaii is the least affordable housing market in the country
• Maui and the island of Hawaii are amongst the hardest hit foreclosure markets in the country
• 96% of polled respondents felt the problem of homelessness in Hawai‘i ranged from serious to very serious (Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 2010)
Although the lack of affordable housing is being addressed by governmental, business, and non-profit organizations, their efforts are simply not enough to keep up with demand. Catholic parishes in the State of Hawaii have clearly indicated a strong desire to address the issues of homelessness.
Link to:
For Download:
The 2011 Homeless Affordable Housing Plan Brochure is designed to be printed to legal-sized paper - please download instructions to facilitate printing.
OSM HAWAII - PROFILE PAGE
