Skip to content
‘Homeowner Assistance Fund’ Expands to $3M to Help Kauaʻi Homeowners Prevent Foreclosure

Homeowner Assistance Fund Expands to $3M for Kauai Homeowners

Lihue, Kaua‘i, HI (November 22, 2022) – Building on the success of the past year, the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) for residents on Kauaʻi has now expanded to $3 million, offering even greater benefit to homeowners who are in financial hardship.

Eligible homeowners on Kauaʻi can apply for grants up to $30,000 to reduce monthly payments, pay past-due mortgages, pay past-due property taxes, and/or pay past-due HOA fees. All homeowners who apply may receive free HUD housing counseling to assist with creating a budget and action plan, including loan modifications, to prevent foreclosure.

An estimated 400 homeowners will be helped through the expanded program, which will continue through September 2025 or until the fund is depleted, whichever is sooner. Since the program started in November 2021, 145 homeowners have been assessed for assistance and enrolled in free housing counseling.

The HAF program is funded through the County of Kauaʻi, together with Hawai‘i nonprofits including Hawai‘i Community Lending (HCL) , with applications being accepted by phone, online, or in-person at Financial Opportunity Centers (FOCs) run by partner nonprofit, Hawaiian Community Assets.

Requirements of the program are as follows:
• Live in your home on Kauaʻi
• Own no other real property
• Have a first mortgage that was originated before Jan. 21, 2020 (not required for past-due property taxes and HOA fees)
• Have experienced financial hardship (i.e., a 10% decrease in annual income or 10%
increase in household expenses since March 2020)
• Have less than $25,000 in assets (i.e. retirement, savings, pension) or less than five times your monthly mortgage payment
• Meet the maximum annual household income requirements

• Have a loan with one of the qualifying mortgage servicers (not required for past-due property taxes and past-due HOA fees)

To apply for the program, complete the following five steps:
1) Go to https://hawaiicommunitylending.com/grants-loans/ to see if your mortgage servicer is participating in the Homeowner Assistance Fund (not required for past-due property taxes and HOA fees).

2) Enroll at a Financial Opportunity Center.

3) Complete a homeowner questionnaire to determine if you are eligible.

4) Receive free housing counseling to prevent foreclosure.

5) Work with Hawai‘i Community Lending’s Mortgage Loan Consultants to obtain up to $30,000 to pay your past-due mortgage, reduce mortgage payments, and past-due property taxes and HOA fees.

For more information about the program or to apply, please contact HCL at 808-587-7656, www.HawaiiCommunityLending.com or email HAF@HawaiianCommunity.net.


# # #

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.”

This will close in 0 seconds

Sign up for our e-newsletter

Subscribe to receive news and updates.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Invalid email address

This will close in 0 seconds

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.

This will close in 0 seconds

Skip to content