Middle-Income Down Payment Assistance

At a glance

What: Bill 20 (2025), CD1, relating to funds, creates a revolving loan fund as a pilot program through 2032 to give down payment assistance to middle-income families not served by existing affordable housing programs.
Outcome: passed third reading July 8, 2026, as CD1, 8-0 (Tulba absent). Okimoto moved committee report 161(26); Nishimoto seconded.
Caveats: Tupola acknowledged implementation and funding concerns raised by city departments and said funding the loan fund will take separate legislation; she said the pilot lets the Council judge effectiveness before any expansion. Cordero said it was developed with the Departments of Community Services and Budget and Fiscal Services and details will be refined before it takes effect.
Testimony: Billionaire and Suzanne Young of the Honolulu Board of Realtors in support.

City Council journal (minutes), regular meeting of July 8, 2026 (adopted August 12, 2026): https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=28796

Passed third reading 8-0.