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Applications to Homeowner Assistance Fund program on Kaua‘i closes May 1 [Kauai News Now]

Officials with the County of Kauaʻi are advising residents that the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) program, in partnership with Hawai‘i Community Lending (HCL), will close its application portal on May 1, 2024.

The HAF programs were funded through the American Rescue Plan signed into law by the Biden Administration with the goal of preventing foreclosure in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both counties of Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i participate in this program. The announcement comes as HCL, the counties’ nonprofit administrator, projects funding for the program will be fully obligated by Sept. 30, 2024. Homeowners who reside on Kauaʻi and are interested in applying for the programs must submit complete applications no later than 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2024, to be considered for funding. Applications are online at www.HawaiiCommunityLending.com/HAF.

“We are incredibly grateful to our partners at Hawai‘i Community Lending for helping our residents every step of the way since the pandemic,” said Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami in a statement. “Because of this program, many of our families experiencing financial challenges were provided the guidance and support to remain in their homes.”

“We mahalo the counties for their partnership in keeping our families in homes and the resiliency of our families who have been faced with hardship due to COVID,” said HCL Executive Director Jeff Gilbreath in a statement. “This public-private partnership is a demonstration of what is possible when nonprofits and counties work together to deliver federally funded programs that serve our families who are most in need.”

According to Gilbreath, HCL has successfully assisted 1,043 homeowners in both Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i counties, in preventing foreclosure since the HAF programs launched in October 2021. More than $8.1 million in both counties (which includes $3 million on Kaua‘i) has been disbursed to help local homeowners reduce their monthly mortgage payments; bring their loans, property taxes, HOA fees, homeowners insurance and utility bills current; and for forward going payments.

With a couple of weeks remaining before the program closes, homeowners in need can still get help. Homeowners applying for the Kauaʻi County HAF programs must meet the following requirements to be eligible for financial assistance:

  • Live in your home on Kaua‘i.
  • Own no other real property.
  • Have experienced financial hardship (i.e. a 10% decrease in annual income or 10% increase in household expenses since March 2020).
  • Have less than five times your monthly housing expenses in assets (does not include pension/401k).
  • Have a mortgage with one of the qualifying mortgage servicers (listed online); reverse mortgages allowed(not required for past-due property taxes and past-due HOA fees).
  • Meet the maximum annual household income requirements:

If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact 877-477-5990 as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible will allow adequate time to fulfill your request. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy.

For more information about the HAF programs or to apply, visit www.HawaiiCommunityLending.com/HAF.

See article at Kauai News Now.

About Chanel Josiah

Chanel was born and raised on Oʻahu and now resides on Kaua’i with her husband and seven children. As a 5th-generation Hawaiian Home Lands lessee and homeowner, she has firsthand knowledge of the challenges families face in accessing housing, financial opportunities and resources both on and off homesteads. Her lived experiences and professional expertise inspire her passion for supporting others and strengthen her commitment to helping local and native Hawaiian families secure and sustain homes on their ancestral ‘āina, building lasting stability for themselves and generations to come.

Chanel also serves as the Board President of Pa‘a Lima, a nonprofit organization that offers support services and education to address houselessness, mental health challenges, financial literacy, and income instability. The organization is committed to breaking generational cycles and changing lives, with a special emphasis on supporting youth aging out of foster care.

As Operations Director, Chanel oversees marketing, community engagement, technical assistance, and operations. A key aspect of her role is connecting directly with communities to understand their needs and challenges. Drawing on her personal and professional experiences, Chanel approaches these challenges holistically, blending diverse perspectives to create innovative strategies that drive meaningful and lasting change for the communities she serves. “I’m grateful to be able to share our organization’s moʻomeheu (culture), moʻolelo (story) and kaunu (passion) with communities across Hawaiʻi, partners and investors who believe in the work we do.”

Chanel is inspired by her keiki, motivating her dedication to ensuring they can build their futures here in Hawai’i. She is also inspired by her tūtū kāne, Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox. “He was a fearless kānaka ‘ōiwi champion who encompassed the spirit of aloha ‘āina – the love of his land, and home just as we do now.” Outside of work, Chanel enjoys reading, practicing hula, and spending time at the beach with her ʻohana.

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About Aikū’ē Kalima

Aikū’ē Kalima, former Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund Manager for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, joins Hawaiʻi Community Lending as its lending director.
Kalima comes to HCL with more than 25 years of experience in community development and mortgage lending. In his new position, Kalima will direct HCL’s consumer, construction, mortgage and small business lending.
“As a native Hawaiian and Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiary, I understand the financial needs for economic development and quality housing for kānaka is great,” said Kalima, who led OHA’s deployment of $9.8 million in loans to 286 native Hawaiians statewide over the last five years. “For over 25 years, I have worked tirelessly at the grassroots level, educating kānaka on the skills necessary to achieve the dream of homeownership and providing resources to achieve financial sustainability. I plan to continue serving the lāhui empowering ‘ohana and communities as the lending director for Hawai‘i Community Lending.”
Kalima takes the reins of HCL’s $16-million revolving loan fund and will oversee a team of seven staff members statewide. “HCL is honored to have Aikū’ē join us in our mission to help tackle our housing crisis by funding native Hawaiian and local families to build, buy and save homes from foreclosure,” said HCL Executive Director Jeff Gilbreath. “He has proven leadership in both the public and private sectors and has the passion to get families on the land through homeownership.”

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About Sean

Sean Perez loves hearing about the great things Hawai‘i Community Lending is doing for the Hawaiian community. And now as HCL’s new director of finance, he is excited to be part of the team making it happen.

“I enjoy hearing the success stories of new homes that we will soon be building and finding for these families,” he says. “HCL’s mission resonates well with me and my passion to help others and assist our community.”

To this end, Sean will manage HCL’s finances, accounting, compliance, and information technology matters; working with HCL Executive Director Jeff Gilbreath and supervising three division managers. He comes to HCL with over eight years of experience in financial management in the nonprofit and private, for-profit sectors having worked in the legal, social service, health, and telecommunications industries as well as with the US Attorney’s Office of Guam and CNMI. In his previous job as director of operations for the Hawai‘i State Bar Association where he was responsible for directing the organization’s finances, Sean grew his experience in nonprofit financial management and gained extensive background in accounting, grants management, IT and human resources. These skills, in conjunction with his drive to work with the Hawai‘i community through nonprofit assistance, led Sean to HCL.

Currently living in Honolulu, Sean was born in Tamuning, Guam. When he was 10 years old, he moved to Oxnard, Calif., where he attended school and eventually community college. The Air Force Reserves beckoned him after graduation, leading him to serve three and a half years as an aircrew flight equipment technician at March Air Reserve Base. After his military service, Sean returned to his childhood home of Guam, where he went to college to obtain a degree in finance and economics, and then to pursue an MBA.

On O‘ahu, Sean enjoys family life with his fiancée and toddler son; fishing and surfing in his time off. “I look forward to accomplishing great things with HCL and creating new success stories,” he says.

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About Nikki

Nikki Hollern is a mother of five, born and raised in Upcountry Maui, but she spent the last 15 years in the beautiful town of Lahaina. Lahaina stole her heart, with the people and the town being unlike any other. After the fire, her family had to relocate to Kahului.

Her heart remains in Lahaina, and her goal is to help this amazing community get back to where they belong. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to be part of the HCL ‘ohana, helping navigate this incredibly hard time and hopefully serving as a guiding light to assist the community in returning home and coming back even stronger.

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