Residents of Hawaii Island searching for affordable housing now have a new asset at their disposal – a digital dashboard designed to make finding a home easier. As detailed in a Spectrum Local News report, the County of Hawaii's Affordable Housing Dashboard offers a real-time view of current and future housing projects, featuring more than 8,100 units in development and existing rental units.
Developed internally by the Department of Information Technology and the Office of Housing and Community Development, the user-friendly site allows individuals to sift through data by applying filters through drop-down menus, which include details like location and income limits, as well as status updates for each property, the County of Hawaii release indicated. However, despite the fanfare for the much-needed aid in the housing crisis, some users may stumble upon the navigation – a typical hurdle with new tech rollouts.
According to KWXX, the dashboard not only showcases the substantial increase in housing options from just over 1,200 homes to over 8,100 but also stresses the County’s commitment towards creating sustainable communities for local families. With Hawaii County facing the need to add 10,796 affordable housing units by 2025 to meet the community’s demands, this tool represents a step toward addressing the acute housing shortage.
"Our commitment to enhancing housing opportunities for all residents of Hawaii Island is unwavering,” Housing Administrator Susan Kunz articulated in the county news release, signaling the transparent ethos the county purportedly adheres to. Mayor Mitch Roth reinforced this message on KWXX, suggesting, the tool provides a medium for residents to "hold us accountable for ensuring that our keiki can thrive and succeed for generations to come."
