Office of Housing

The Office of Housing (HOU) drives policy and strategy by engaging in cross-sector collaboration to stimulate the acquisition, development, and preservation of affordable housing. This includes the creation of pathways out of homelessness that lead to permanent housing solutions.

From the time the office was established in 2010, HOU primarily focused on coordinating outreach and program services to assist residents experiencing homelessness and assisted the city’s managing director in coordinating the Affordable Housing Working Group (AHWG) activities to foster cross-departmental collaboration.

HOU experienced a major transformation with the hiring of a new executive director and additional staff during the last quarter of Fiscal Year 2023. The office shifted focus to increasing and preserving Oʻahu’s housing supply by establishing a mission and vision for housing to drive unprecedented investment in three pillars of housing: the acquisition of affordable housing units, the creation of new housing units, and the preservation of existing affordable units. HOU leads the AHWG and a variety of subcommittees to focus on project delivery and measuring program progress.

To address Oʻahu’s long-standing housing crisis, the city is working closely with appropriate state and federal government agencies, along with private developers and other stakeholders, to leverage resources and expertise. HOU is exploring strategies to break down barriers, incentivize production, and reform policies, while also evaluating the effectiveness of city housing ordinances, policies, and administrative rules. The office is working with the appropriate departments to drive necessary changes to become more efficient and effective in generating more housing.