WhatsApp Committee Meeting on Bill 77 for Houseless Housing – June 15, 2026

Chair Shane Senancy convened the meeting at 9:03 AM to discuss Bill 77, which would require a portion of the affordable housing fund to be used to provide suitable living environments for county residents who are houseless. The committee heard public testimony, debated the bill's scope and implementation, and ultimately deferred action pending further input from the Department of Human Concerns and advocates.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lori J.: Expressed strong support for Bill 77, sharing personal experience with outreach and being unshelled. She urged the county to refurbish existing spaces and create community-based housing. She estimated about 10% of unshelled need dual diagnosis facilities.
• Lisa Darcy (founder of Share Your Manna): Supported the bill but emphasized that housing must be paired with appropriate programs and design. She stressed that existing shelters often fail due to lack of wraparound services, and that local control and cultural sensitivity are critical. She opposed the “housing first” model without supports.
• Hadas Avas (resident of Kalana Mahina): Testifieded about alleged contract violation at Kalana Mahina (free parking not provided), retaliatory termination of her lease, and lack of accountability. She urged the county to enforce afdordable housing agreements and protect tenants’ rights.
• Lalla Johnson (advocate): Strongly supported Bill 77, noting that the housing crisis existed before the Lahaina fires. She urged priority for cultural connection,, community-based refuge spaces, and respect for Kanaka Maoli practices. She also referenced the 2021 Kuhimana sweep as an example of ineffective displacement.

Discussion Items

• Bill 77 Overview: Chair Senancy explained the bill’s purpose: to direct the housing director to set aside a portion of the affordable housing fund specifically for houseless residents. The bill also adds a definition of “houseless” to county code.
• HUD Policy Changes: Senancy noted that HUD restructured continuum of care funding on June 1, 2026, moving away from housing first toward transitional housing and mandatory treatment programs. Members expressed concern about barrier-riden models, with Director Mitchell cautioning that not all houseless need transition – some require permanent supportive housing.
• Implementation Concerns: Several council members questioned how the bill would work given limited unencumbered affordable housing funds and the need to coordinate with the Department of Human Concerns. Director Mitchell proposed two approaches: adding bonus points in RFPs for projects including houseless units, or issuing RFPs for county-owned land. He recommended softening the bill’s language from “shall ensure” to “endeavor to use.”
• Need for Interdepartmental Collaboration: Members agreed that housing and human concerns must work together on program design and wrap-around services. The committee decided to invite Director Willis (Human Concerns) and Director Molitao (Office of Economic Vitality?) to future meetings.
• Alternative Models: Director Mitchell mentioned the Lima Ola project on Kauai (a mixed-use development including transitional housing) but noted its long development timeline. He also referenced a potential large-scale development at the Kihei Police Station parcel. Councilmember Paulton advocated for new zoning categories to accommodate smaller, village-style housing.

Key Outcomes

• Deferral of Bill 77: The committee deferred action on the bill, pending additional input from the Department of Human Concerns, housing advocates, and further analysis of the gap between shelter usage and unsheltered need.
• Amendments Agreed: Director Mitchell’s suggestion to soften the language in Section 4 (from “ensure” to “endeavor”) was accepted by multiple members and will be incorporated.
• Future Meetings: The committee will continue discussion on June 29, 2026, focusing on the safe parking program. A follow-up agenda item on Bill 77 will include testimony from Director Willis and community advocates, as well as information on county-owned properties and zoning options.
• Data Gathering: Director Mitchell committed to working with council members and advocates to better understand the gap between bed usage and actual houseless needs, and to present a clearer plan for potential RFPs and county land use.