Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 7, 1 July 2002 — NEW PROGRAMS PROMISE HOUSING RELIEF FOR HAWAIIANS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NEW PROGRAMS PROMISE HOUSING RELIEF FOR HAWAIIANS

By Naomi Sodetani A$10 million grant was recently awarded to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands under a newly adopted act that pledges federal funds and loan guarantees to help native Hawaiians build their homes on Hawaiian Homes Lands, At a press conference held on the 'Iolani Palaee grounds June 13, the U,S, Dept, of Housing and Urban Development and DHHL formally kicked off the new Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program and the Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund, Lorraine Higa, 67, applauded the new funding that will help low-ineome Native Hawaiians finally build and move onto homestead lots, "I think it's so beautiful — terrifici" she exclaimed, The Waimānalo homesteader recalled that the statewide homestead~ ers association pulled together to sup~ port the draft legislation several years ago, "It took a lot of time, lotta people and all our efforts, We're happy that this passed," Higa said, Dignitaries who shared celebratory remarks included Miehael Liu, assis~ tant secretary for Public and Indian Housing, HUD, Lt, Governor Mazie Hirono, and DHHL Deputy Director

Jobie Masagatani Yamaguchi, Jenny Chock, a member of the Select Committee on Indian Affairs, read a message from Sen, Daniel Inouye, The senator recounted emotional testimony of homesteaders who related deep frustrations during statewide hearings on the needs of the Hawaiian Home Lands program, "Sadly, many on the waiting list have died while waiting for the award of their homestead," the senator wrote, "To address and alleviate the severe housing needs of Native Hawaiians, I committed myself to extend to Native Hawaiians the same federal housing assistance programs that are provided to American Indians and Alaska Natives," In December 2000, Congress passed the 1996 Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act to include the Hawaiian Homelands Homeownership Act of 2000, Under the act, the DHHL will receive block grants to develop affordable housing for low-ineome native Hawaiian fami~ lies on homestead land, Housing block grants ean be flexibly applied to meet the individual needs of native Hawaiians, Funds ean be used for the construction or reconstruction of affordable housing, down payment and closing costs assistance, direct lending or interest subsidies, housing

counseling, payments to prevent fore~ closures on homes, tenant-based rental assistance, and housing safety and security, The Hawaiian Homelands Homeownership Act also created the Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund to back private financing to Native Hawaiian families who otherwise could not acquire a mort~ gage because of the unique legal status of the Hawaiian Home Lands, Liu noted that the loan guarantee program is expected to leverage up to $40 million in mortgage funds, Presenting a ceremonial eheek to DHHL officials, Liu said that in addi~ tion to the $10 million grant awarded this year, "another $10 million is

included in this Administration's fiscal year 2003 budget proposal with the potential for more funding at higher levels in the future," The new program will provide federal loan guarantees to leverage millions of dollars of private mortgage resources to provide native Hawaiians with greater access to mortgage loans for one- to four~family housing on Hawaiian Home Lands, With the greater flexibility of this new federal~ ly-backed loan guarantee program, homesteaders will be be able to tap into conventional mortgage lending and home financing programs that were not accessible to them because of See HOUSING on page 14 $

Waimeineilo Homesteciclers Associcition members Nōheilei 'Āinei, Mciry Ann Crowell (stcincling) einel Lorrciine Higci eeime to ei press conference cit 'loleini Peileiee to celebrcite the new feclercil housing progrcims thcit will benefit them einel other homesteciclers stcitewicle, Photo: Naomi Sodetani

HOUSING from page 1 the trust status of the Hawaiian Home Lands. Native Hawaiians experienee the highest rates of overcrowding and housing problems in the nation, trailing behind American Indian and Alaska Native households. Native Hawaiians live in overcrowded housing eonditions, with 70.8 percent earning incomes below the median Hawai'i family ineome. One third of Native Hawaiians eligible to reside on Hawaiian Home Lands pay more than 30 percent of their ineome for shelter. "Hawaiians are paying for basic necessities with credit cards, those are the stories that rest behind these statistics," Yamaguchi said. "What lies ahead is such a daunting task, but this program presents opportunities for new partnerships" between federal, state and county govemments, and private lenders. "It's not a mistake the word 'self-determination' was in the original act," the DHHL deputy director said. ■