County announces incentive program for landlords
Hawaii County is offering a $3,000 sign-on bonus for Hawaii Island landlords taking part in select housing assistance programs.
Landlords who partner with the Office of Housing and Community Development could be eligible to receive a one-time $3,000 incentive payment when renting with a one-year lease to Emergency Housing, Veteran, Non-Elderly and Disabled, or Foster Young Adult voucher holders.
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Property owners with multiple open units could receive $3,000 per unit.
By offering the sign-on bonus, the housing office hopes to increase the number of landlords participating in the program to provide more housing opportunities for participants holding vouchers.
“Addressing the homelessness and affordable housing crises requires collaboration and partnerships,” Housing Administrator Susan Kunz said in a press release. “This new incentive program … seeks to leverage the units of affordable housing available now on Hawaii Island to help those in need to deliver real results.”
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s most recent “The Gap” report issued in March 2023, Hawaii in 2021 had just 89 affordable and available homes per 100 renter households earning at or below 100% area median income, or AMI. For low-income renter households, those earning at or below 80% AMI, there were just 74 units per 100 households. The figure drops to 34 units per 100 households at or below 30% AMI.
This shortage of affordable rental housing units makes it difficult for voucher recipients to find or keep an affordable housing rental unit. In any given month, up to 100 participants who’ve received a voucher are searching for a safe place to call home.
The Landlord Incentive Program will end upon the depletion of available of federal funding. Full program details can be found at www.hawaiicounty.gov/landlords.
Interested landlords also are encouraged to sign-up for the housing office’s next New Landlord Orientation set for 9 a.m. May 24 in Hilo.
For more information, email landlord.housing@hawaiicounty.gov or call the Existing Housing Division at (808) 959-4642, ext. 1904.
