A task force will start meeting soon to identify regulatory barriers to affordable housing in the Islands.

Gov. Linda Lingle established the task force by executive order on Aug. 22, and formally announced the group at the dedication of the Courtyards at Mililani Mauka affordable rental project yesterday.

The first task force meeting is scheduled for Nov. 7.

The dearth of housing for low-income families is a major factor in the homeless crisis and by far one of the most pressing social welfare issues facing the state.

But housing advocates say permitting delays and other regulatory stumbling blocks regularly add unanticipated costs to affordable housing projects, which are passed on to renters. Those same regulatory issues foil some affordable projects before they begin, and scare developers away.

"This task force ... will help identify government regulations, practices or policies that can significantly increase the time and costs involved in building a home," Lingle said in a news release issued yesterday.

She is finalizing a list of 21 nominees for the regulatory task force, which will include state officials, lawmakers, housing advocates and developers.

The group of volunteers will review a host of barriers, including state and county regulatory requirements, permitting delays and obsolete building codes.

The members will then make a series of recommendations on how the process can be streamlined.

Denise Boswell, executive director of Housing Hawai'i, said regulatory barriers are a major gripe for those looking to create affordable housing in the Islands and nationwide.

"It's big because it results in significant time delays," she said. "In affordable housing, your goal is to keep the cost down. Any time delays add to the cost of housing."

To stem the problem nationally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development created the "National Call to Action" for regulatory reforms to housing.

The program is designed to give cities and states guidance on how they can do away with cumbersome regulatory requirements to create more affordable units.

Lingle has joined Hawai'i in the Call to Action, and HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson is scheduled to be at the Housing Hawai'i conference on Oct. 17 to speak more about the program and its benefits to states and cities.

Boswell, whose organization is a coalition of public, private and nonprofit organizations, said some have raised concerns about doing away with too many regulatory steps.

But she said housing advocates and state and city officials appreciate the role of regulations in creating safe housing, and will concentrate on barriers that are needless.

"You certainly wouldn't want to say something as drastic as, if you build affordable housing you don't have to comply with the building code," she said. "You want to make sure the safeguards ... remain in place."

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.