About-FACE

Honolulu Weekly
After Hannemann’s departure, Honolulu is doing a 180 on housing issues.

Joan Conrow
August 25, 2010

FAITH ACTION FOR COMMUNITY EQUITY/

For years, Oahu housing advocates found former Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s door shut tight to their concerns. “He wouldn’t even meet with us,” said Jun Yang, an organizer with FACE (Faith Action for Community Equity), which has been pressing the city to address homelessness and the need for affordable homes.

But now that Hannemann has abandoned the mayor’s post in pursuit of higher office, FACE is getting a much warmer reception. Indeed, it might be too warm, with the Honolulu City Council and Acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell advancing separate resolutions to bring the city back into the housing arena. While they similar, the Council’s proposal would situate the city housing effort inside the mayor’s office, while Caldwell’s would reorganize the Office of Community Services.
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A city housing office could help solve homelessness

Honolulu Star-Advertiser
August 1, 2010
Editorial

By The Rev. Alan Mark

FACE (Faith Action for Community Equity) has been pressing for a city housing office to bring an intense focus in the city on affordable housing, which is the true solution to the growing affordable housing and homeless crisis we face.

The renewed focus on safe zones for the homeless is needed and necessary in this crisis, but we should never view them as the endpoint solution for homelessness.

A concerted, focused and integrated effort in both homelessness and affordable housing is desperately needed among all levels of government, private sector developers (for-profit and nonprofit), service providers and advocacy groups.

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