The Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee recommended first reading of a bill to reprogram $51,151 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to cover homeowners association fees and utilities for county‑owned Nahele Kupuna senior affordable rental units.

Why it matters: Nahele Kupuna provides long‑term rental units for wildfire survivors who are kupuna and meet CDBG income eligibility. The reprogramming reimburses the Department of Finance for costs that accrued while units were vacant and under temporary county management before Cameron Center assumed property management responsibilities.

Julie Jenkins, CDBG program manager in the Department of Housing, told the committee the reprogramming draws on unspent, closed‑project balances: $46,170 from Renewal Project Phase 2 Building 6; $1,550 from Lahaina Surf Preservation; $910 from Hale Makua Kahului Fire Alarm System; and $2,512 from Molokai Landfill. Jenkins said the CDBG office had set aside $100,000 annually for Nahele Kupuna operations and that property management fees and other subsidies are covered from that appropriation.

Gail Rumbao, federal housing programs administrator, said the program already has a wait list and property management in place; Cameron Center manages the units and the county does not anticipate needing further reprogramming "at this time," Jenkins said.

Committee members asked about the size of the wait list and management terms; Jenkins said the most recent count provided by Cameron Center showed about 90 names on the wait list for the Nahele Kupuna program, and that management contracts had been extended through October 2026. The committee voted to recommend first reading; the motion carried 7‑yes, 2 excused.

Staff said they will post the written responses to members’ questions and that they anticipate no further reprogramming requests for the Nahele Kupuna operations line for FY25.