Housing and Community Development
The Housing and Community Development Division develops affordable housing with government resources, plans and monitors affordable housing with private developers, monitors restrictions on affordable projects, provides research and community education regarding housing needs and solutions, administers the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), the Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) Program, Residential Rehabilitation and Home-Buyer Loan Programs, various fair housing activities, and other related County, State, and federal housing programs.
HOME Investment Partnership Program
HOME is a federal block grant program enacted into law through the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990. HOME fulfills three specific goals:
- Expand the supply of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing, with the primary focus on rental housing, for very-low and low-income Americans;
- Strengthen the abilities of states and units of general local government to design and implement strategies for achieving adequate supplies of decent, affordable housing; and
- Encourage public, private, and non-profit partnerships in addressing affordable housing needs.
The County provides grants and loans directly to eligible applicants to implement affordable housing activities to benefit low-income households below 80% of Kauai's median income. An eligible applicant is any public agency, private non-profit organization, or private for-profit entity. Individuals are not eligible to apply for HOME assistance.
2024 HOME Homeownership Sales Limits (Effective September 1, 2024)(PDF, 155KB)
2025 HOME Maximum Per Unit Subsidy (Effective January 1, 2025)(PDF, 88KB)
2025 HOME Rent Limits (Effective June 1, 2025)(PDF, 121KB)
2025 HOME Income Limits (Effective June 1, 2025)(PDF, 119KB)
National Housing Trust Fund (HTF)
The National Housing Trust Fund Program (HTF) was created by Title I of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Section 1131 (Public Law 110-289), codified at 12 U.S.C. 4568.
The goal of the HTF program is to increase and preserve the supply of decent, safe, and sanitary affordable rental housing for extremely low-income households (not exceeding 30% of the area median income), including homeless families.
The County provides grants and loans directly to eligible applicants to implement affordable housing activities to benefit extremely low-income households below 30% of Kauai’s median income. An eligible applicant is any public agency, private non-profit organization, or private for-profit entity. Individuals are not eligible to apply for HTF assistance
(PDF, 142KB)2025 HTF Rent Limits (Effective June 1, 2025)(PDF, 119KB)
2025 HTF Income Limits (Effective June 1, 2025)(PDF, 118KB)
Program Year 2022 HTF Allocation Plan(PDF, 147KB)
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
CDBG is the longest running federal grant program administered nationwide and funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The goal of the CDBG program is to develop and improve communities, principally for low and moderate income persons, by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanded economic opportunities.
2025 CDBG Income Limits Effective June 1, 2025(PDF, 68KB)
Hawaii Housing Planning Study
The Hawaii Housing Planning Study (HHPS) provides housing planners with contemporary data on the housing situation in Hawaii to support planning activity. The most recent HHPS is located here: Hawaii Housing Planning Study 2024(PDF, 10MB)
Kauai County Housing Agency (KCHA) 201H Application Introduction
Chapter 201H, HRS, authorizes the Kauai County Housing Agency (KCHA) to develop or assist in the development of housing projects which are exempt from certain statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules of any governmental agency relating to planning, zoning, construction standards for subdivisions, development and improvement of land, and the construction of units thereon provided that:
• The project primarily or exclusively includes affordable housing units.
• The KCHA finds that the project meets minimum requirements of health and safety; and
• The development of the project does not contravene any safety standards, tariffs, or rates and fees approved by the public utilities commission for public utilities or various Boards of Water Supply.
• The legislative body of the county in which the housing project is to be situated shall have approved the project with or without modification.
The 201H expedited processing tool provides for greater design flexibility and cost savings for affordable housing projects on Kauai. Interested applicants may download the 201H Application, Application Worksheets in Exhibit A, and the Kauai County Housing Agency Administrative Rules as listed in order below.
Kauai County Housing Agency 201H Application(DOCX, 137KB)
201H Application Worksheets (KCHA) Exhibit A(XLSX, 60KB)
Kauai County Housing Agency Administrative Rules October 6, 2025(PDF, 7MB)