Founded in 1996, Faith Action for Community Equity (Faith Action) has been committed to listening to the concerns of its members to identify the issues that will be addressed by the organization.  Our organizing work, includes issue research, education of our members and the wider community and action, has improved the conditions for all the residents of Hawaii. Our primary focus is on housing, long-term care, health care, jobs, and economic development, public education, and safety, immigration, and transportation equity.  In each of these areas, Faith Action has experienced successes locally and statewide.

Housing

• The Faith Action HousingNow! Committee successfully passed SB 301 through the both Senate and House - a bill to discontinue a tax loophole for Hawaii Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) which would prevent millions of tax dollars annually from leaving the state. However, the bill did not receive Gov. Ige's final approval (2019)

• The Faith Action Housing Now! Committee mobilized the legislature to pass HB 2748, otherwise known as the "Bob Nakata Bill" named after the Reverend Bob Nakata who was the Co-Chair of the committee. This bill appropriated $200 million to the State Rental Housing Revolving Fund  (2017)

• Working closely with other housing and policy organizations, persuaded City Council member Kymberly Pine to pass Bill 58, which abolished the option of in lieu fees for housing developers. Abolishing this option eliminated a loophole for developers to opt out of requirements for developing affordable housing, as required for luxury developers  (2017) 

• Influenced the passage of six affordable housing bills signed by the Governor  (2016)

• Built a shipping container tiny home that traveled around the island of Oahu for 5 months, inspiring the passage of the Accessory Dwelling Unit law and the creation of Hale Mauliola homeless village at Sand Island  (2015)

• Hosted a Housing Summit at the State Capitol with over 200 stakeholders in attendance  (2014)

• Won the creation of mandatory court-supervised mediation before a bank is allowed to foreclose – the most comprehensive law protecting Hawaii's homeowners from foreclosure in the state’s history  (2011)

• Won an agreement with Bank of America for enforcement of face-to-face loan modification meetings in Hawaii  (2011)

• Secured $5,000,000 in essential repairs for Mayor Wright Housing, including the restoration of hot water  (2011)

• Collaborated with leaders at Kuhio Park Terrace to complete the Request for Proposal (“RFP”) for its redevelopment, convincing the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (“HPHA”) to include criteria guaranteeing 1 to 1 unit replacement to preserve all affordable units  (2009)

• Won an agreement between the State of Hawaii, Carmel Partners & Kukui Gardens Corporation, securing eighty-two million dollars to ensure the long-term affordability of 800 plus units at Kukui Gardens. Also acquired funds for Kukui Gardens from the 2009 Stimulus Package after some of the original funding was lost in the economic downturn  (2006-2009)

• Created a residents’ organization in the City’s affordable housing complexes, working with residents to preserve the affordability of the 2,300 plus units in perpetuity while creating legal avenues for residents to have a say in any transfers of ownership (2008-2009)

• Increased the percentage of the conveyance tax going into the State Housing Trust Fund from 30% to 50% in 2006.  Assisted in further increasing it to 65% (2007)

• Joined Partners in Care to increase the overall Homeless Service budget in the State of Hawaii by $10 million  (2006 and 2007)

• Changed the zoning restrictions on Ohana Units to allow larger spaces to be converted into housing for relatives  (2006)

• Crafted a resident hiring plan to enforce HUD Section 3 for work in connection to the Kalihi Valley Homes renovation  (1999)

• Obtained the commitment of $47 million from the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH) in order to renovate Kalihi Valley Homes (KVH), including emergency health and safety repairs such as fixing the sewer lines  (1997-1999)

Immigration Reform

• The Hawaii Coalition for Immigration Reform (HCIR) secured the passage of SR 18 which represents the first formal statement from our Legislature calling on USCIS to extend basic immigration services to Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island since these services were discontinued nearly one decade ago (2016)

• Organized “Know Your Rights” workshops for immigrants on Hawaii Island, Maui, and Oahu

• Conducted workshops for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applicants

• Enacted resident tuition fees at the University of Hawaii for DREAMers (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors)

• Worked with State of Hawaii congress members to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) legislation in the Senate and we continue to work with our elected representatives to bring a vote for CIR Legislation with an earned pathway to citizenship for undocumented persons already in the country to the House floor

• Sponsored reception for Jose' Antonio Vargas following the screening of his film “Documented” at the Honolulu Film Festival

• Worked with the State Legislature to pass Safe Drivers Act.  The bill passed the Senate Transportation and International Affairs Committee and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee but did not pass the Judiciary and Labor Committee  (2014)