Hawaiʻi County Council advances extension of homeless fund before the audit it requested is finished
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The Hawaiʻi County Council voted 7-2 in early October 2026 to advance Bill 192, which would extend the county's Homeless and Housing Fund, funded by property-tax revenue and set to expire in June 2027, to June 2029. The fund allocates a minimum of $9 million a year to local nonprofits and has awarded more than $33.5 million in grants. The council requested an audit earlier in 2026 to determine whether the money was spent effectively; the county auditor's office says the audit should be done by year's end, but the bill is moving to a second and final reading first. Two council members who voted no said they want to see the audit before voting to extend the program. Some council members said the extension would give nonprofits more time to find other funding.
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