Housing Now! Coalition

The outcome for now:​

Aloha,

 

Here's our final update on the outcome of the Empty Homes Tax proposals.

 

We advocated for an Empty Homes Tax as a part of solving our ongoing housing crisis on Oahu.

 

The Empty Homes Tax bill that has been pending before the City Council is expected to expire at the end of this month, falling just one vote short of passage.

  

 We also introduced the Empty Homes Tax to the County Charter Commission so the idea could be put up to voters in this once every 10 year opportunity for voters to weigh in directly.

 

The Honolulu Charter Commission voted 8-5 in favor of placing an Empty Homes Tax proposal before the voters. Unfortunately, the Charter required a 9-vote supermajority, so the proposal did not advance to the November ballot.

 

The Commission did, however, adopt language recognizing Honolulu's housing crisis as an "existential threat" to our community and acknowledging the City's compelling interest in encouraging the use of our limited housing supply as homes for Oʻahu residents. While not the outcome we hoped for, that recognition is an important step forward in the public conversation.  

  

So we came very close in both venues, but ultimately fell short.

  

Our housing crisis has not gone away, and neither has the need for bold solutions. We remain hopeful that our city’s leaders will find courage to increase housing opportunities for local residents in meaningful ways, and make our community more affordable for future generations.

 

Mahalo to all those who supported this effort.  We will keep working together to house our people.