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More Homeowners Eligible for Mortgage Assistance as Homeowner Assistance Fund Program Expands

Hawaii Homeowner Assistance Fund HAF

After more than a year in operation, the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) Program is expanding to provide more assistance and expand eligibility to help even more homeowners in Hawaiʻi. Now there are more ways for homeowners who didn’t qualify before, to qualify for much-needed assistance.

Effective immediately, the program is expanding in four significant ways:
• The maximum assistance amount per household has been increased to $60,000 from $30,000
• Forward payment mortgage assistance is available for up to 12 months
• Homeowners do not have to be delinquent to qualify for assistance
• Reverse mortgage homeowners are now eligible

Since the program’s inception, service providers Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) and Hawaiʻi Community Lending (HCL) have been serving the neediest homeowners by providing essential mortgage assistance to homeowners who experienced financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This expansion will provide more Hawaiʻi homeowners with access to essential mortgage assistance.

Through the program, homeowners may receive assistance with their mortgages, certain property charges, or utilities. Homeowners do not have to have a mortgage to qualify for certain property charges or utility payment assistance, as long as all other program eligibility requirements are met. Homeowners must have experienced a financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and meet other eligibility requirements to qualify.

Homeowners who previously applied are encouraged to contact their local program service provider to find out if they are now eligible for assistance or additional assistance. The program is currently available in three Hawaiʻi counties. Find out more and learn how to apply by contacting your local county program.

O‘ahu
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
(808) 596-8155
www.hawaiiancouncil.org/oahuhome

Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i Community Lending County
(808) 587-7656
www.hawaiicommunitylending.com/haf/

Kaua‘i
Hawai‘i Community Lending County
(808) 587-7656
www.hawaiicommunitylending.com/haf/

Maui County published an RFP for its HAF Program on Monday, May 8, 2023. The RFP closed on Saturday, May 24, 2023, at 2 pm Hawaiʻi Standard Time (HST). A proposal was not received in response to the RFP. Maui County is exploring alternate options to stand up the program.

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 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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