OHA awards Honolulu Habitat $1.5 million for affordable homeownership for Native Hawaiians
(HONOLULU) – Honolulu Habitat for Humanity has been awarded $1.5 million from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to create affordable homeownership opportunities for Native Hawaiian families.
The program will provide permanent, affordable shelter and foster economic self-sufficiency for 36 Native Hawaiians over the next two years. Funds will be used to conduct outreach and education sessions to prospective homeowners and construct nine occupancy ready homes on Department of Hawaiian Homelands trust lands in partnership with qualified low-income families.
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Honolulu Habitat brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1988, Honolulu Habitat has helped more than 400 people build or improve a place to call home. Habitat homeowners help construct their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.
“We are so grateful for this opportunity to partner with OHA,” said TJ Joseph, chief executive officer of Honolulu Habitat, “As a Native Hawaiian woman and Habitat homeowner residing on homestead, I know the transformative power of having a safe, affordable place to call home. Their support will create life-changing outcomes today and build impact and opportunity for future generations of Native Hawaiians.
Their support will create life-changing outcomes today and build impact and opportunity for future generations of Native Hawaiians.
For more information, visit honoluluhabitat.org or call 808-538-7070.
About OHA’s Community Grants Program
OHA’s Community Grants Program supports non-profit organizations whose projects and programs serve the Native Hawaiian community and align with OHA’s Strategic Results. For more information about the Community Grants Program, please visit https://www.oha.org/grants.
About the Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Established by the state Constitutional Convention in 1978, OHA is a semi-autonomous state agency mandated to better the conditions of Native Hawaiians. Guided by a board of nine publicly elected trustees, OHA fulfills its mandate through advocacy, research, community engagement, land management and the funding of community programs. Learn more at www.oha.org.