City and County of Honolulu News Releases

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THE CITY OPENS OFFICE OF HOUSING   (Fri., July1, 2011)— Mayor Peter Carlisle today announced the opening of the Office of Housing and the appointment of the Executive Director, Keith I. Ishida, and the County Housing Coordinator, Trish K. Morikawa, effective today.    Last November, voters passed a charter amendment to set up an Office of Housing on July 1, 2011. The Office of Housing will establish and administer actionable programs for affordable housing, senior housing, special needs housing, and homelessness for the benefit of the people of Oahu. It will also coordinate activities and programs with state and federal agencies as well as with private and non-profit housing organizations.   Mr. Ishida brings with him twenty-three years of professional experience with the City in the planning and development of affordable housing projects, community development, public-private partnerships, and homeless assistance programs. Mr. Ishida has a Bachelor of Arts, Social Science and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii.   Ms. Morikawa spent eight years as a Commissioner for the State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and is experienced in project development and funding of government sponsored homesteading programs for all income levels of native Hawaiians, including coordination with state and federal agencies and private developers. Ms. Morikawa has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law.          -30-   Media contact: Louise Kim McCoy, Mayor's Office, 768-7798.