Action Alert: Save Waipouli Courtyards, Protect Affordable Housing on Kauaʻi’s Eastside
The County of Kauaʻi and the State have an opportunity to purchase Waipouli Courtyards, which would save 82 units from becoming market rate, keep them affordable for 60 years, and keep local residents and keep the local workforce on Kauaʻi.
Please come to the Kauaʻi County Council hearing on Wednesday, September 20th and provide testimony in support of keeping Waipouli Courtyards affordable housing.
Where: Kauaʻi County Council, 4444 Rice Street, Līhuʻe
Time: 8:30am
Re: Agenda Item H-1 - Resolution No. 2023-58 – RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE THE COURTYARDS AT WAIPOULI AND PRESERVE LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY
Written testimony may be submitted via counciltestimony@kauai.gov, mail, or fax. For further information, please call (808) 241- 4188.
Below are some sample talking points, but your own personalized testimony is best.
Impacted residents and their allies held a press conference and public show of support for the state to purchase the development for
permanent affordable housing in June.
Sample Testimony:
Aloha Chair and Councilmembers,
My name is (insert your name) and I am here to support Resolution No. 2023-58 – resolution supporting efforts to acquire the courtyards at Waipouli and preserve long-term affordability.
Mahalo to Chair Rapozo and Councilmember Carvalho for introducing this important resolution in support of administrative efforts to obtain this property and encouraging the Administration to
effectuate an agreement with K D Waipouli LLC to receive a "fair market price" for
the acquisition of the Courtyards at Waipouli, helping ensure affordable rental rates
are maintained in perpetuity.
According to a 2023 UHERO report Hawaii residents face the highest housing costs in the US. In addition to finding that median housing costs are 2.7 times the national level, the report found that fewer than one-third of households in Hawai‘i can afford the typical local home. A household earning the state median income can no longer afford the state’s median priced condominium, let alone a single-family home. High prices and high mortgage interest rates mean that homeownership has become out of reach for a larger share of residents. Over the past two years, the share of households in the state who can afford mortgage payments on the median single-family home has fallen from 44% to 30%, meaning fewer than one in three households can afford the typical single-family home. Fewer than half of households are in a position to afford the median condominium.
Mahalo for your consideration.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
(Where you reside)
Mahalo for taking action!
