Council members press department for details on HUD action plan and CDBG allocations

The committee postponed consideration of Resolution 26-36, Honolulu’s second-year HUD action plan, after councilmembers requested more detail about program allocations and outcome metrics.

Director Anton Krekke explained the action plan packages federal programs — Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), HOPWA and the city’s housing trust fund — for submission to HUD. He said most federal funds appeared flat year-to-year and noted HOPWA (housing for people with AIDS) may route through the state because of population thresholds.

Councilmember Kia Aina challenged the department’s use of CDBG, arguing the program is being treated like a ‘‘piggybank’’ for city services and flagged line items such as $5.1 million listed for acquisition of properties without parcel specifics. "I keep on saying it — it's not city," Kia Aina said, urging that CDBG money primarily fund nonprofits and affordable housing projects rather than internal administrative costs.

Krekke replied that the most recent awards went to service providers and that the department has improved timeliness in meeting HUD’s processes. He agreed to provide members a breakdown showing what percentage of funds go to service providers and to clarify why certain parks or city projects appear in alternate lists.

The committee delayed action to allow the department to provide the requested schedules, award percentages, and property details; several members expressly asked to defer the measure for further briefing.

Next steps: DCS will supply detailed exhibits and a list of awardees and line-item explanations before the item returns to committee.