Oct 2010

HCA Wins Three Year Grant Award to Provide Financial Education in Homeless Transitional Shelters on Oahu's Leeward Coast

WAIANAE, HI - Local nonprofit, Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA), received a three year grant from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) in the amount of $808,187. As a result of the award, HCA will provide financial/renter education and counseling to homeless individuals and families residing in transitional shelters on Oahu's Leeward Coast. The organization's goal is to increase the rate of successful transition among families seeking permanent housing.

Funding secured through ANA will support the delivery of HCA's programs within three partnering transitional shelters that include Kumuhonua, Ulu Ke Kukui, and Ohana Ola O Kahumana. Over the next three years, HCA will provide a minimum of 300 families in transition with culturally-relevant financial literacy/renter education, credit counseling, and access to asset building programs.

"After 10 years of providing financial and homebuyer education programs to increase the homeownership rate among Hawaii residents, we have a heightened awareness of the need to address our communities' broader housing needs," says HCA Executive Director, Michelle Kauhane. "In an economy that puts so many families at-risk of homelessness due to loss of jobs or decreasing income, we are expanding our programs to meet the needs of families with the most critical need for permanent housing." Receipt of the funding will also create three new jobs within the organization, according to Kauhane.

Taking a comprehensive approach to community-based education, HCA will engage families who have transitioned from homelessness to shelters in identifying solutions and policy priorities to increase access to affordable housing. HCA will also provide training and direct assistance to partnering shelters' staff in delivering financial literacy/renter education services to ensure sustainability of program activities beyond the project period.

"Our ultimate goal is to work hand-in-hand with our homeless families and partner organizations to develop a scalable financial literacy/renter education program and build a movement that ensures permanent, affordable housing for future generations," continues Kauhane.

The project expands HCA's larger Statewide Family Financial Education Initiative, which was kicked off in April 2010 in collaboration with 40 community-based organizations and has since generated over $21,000 to serve Hawaii families and youth with free, culturally-relevant financial education services.

HCA is a Native Hawaiian non-profit organization with a mission to build the capacity of low and moderate income communities to achieve and sustain economic self sufficiency. HCA delivers comprehensive asset building programs to achieve its mission while meeting community needs to build, strengthen and sustain family financial stability for future generations.

ANA was established under the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (NAPA) and provides discretionary and competitive grant funding to assist in the planning, development, and implementation of short-term community-based projects (averaging one to three years) that result in social and economic benefits supporting healthy children, families and communities. The mission of ANA is to promote the goal of self-sufficiency and cultural preservation of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islanders organizations.

Mr. Brown, homeowner who received assistance through HCA,  performs at 2008 Luncheon

Come join us at HCA's 2010 Annual Housing Luncheon on October 13, 2010 from 12:30pm - 1:45pm at the Hawaii Convention Center.

We will honor our partner families, present the Native Hawaiian Housing Award, and reflect on the significant milestones achieved throughout t he year.

This year  HCA celebrates 10 years of service to community! We will gather our partners,  stakeholders, families, and friends around the mission of HCA to celebrate the success of families who have realized the dream of homeownership and inspire those on the journey.

The Honorable Senator Colleen Hanabusa will deliver the keynote address.  Senator Hanabusa is president of the Hawaii State Senate and the first woman to hold this position in the Hawaii legislature.  Senator Hanabusa has dedicated herself to public service as a labor attorney, community organizer, and leader in the Hawaii State Senate.  Born and raised in Waianae, she has been a champion for Native Hawaiian Issues.

We hope you are able to join us for this special event. Don't miss the opportunity to gather with community to share the ono food, inspiring success stories, and the beautiful Hawaiian music by Holunape.

To register for the event or for more information about how your organization or business can sponsor the luncheon, please call HCA Operation Manager, Rona Kahoonei at 808-587-7886 or via email at rkahoonei@hclending.com.

Growing Our Organizational Capacity

HONOLULU, HI - In September HCA transitioned its AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) member, Hallie Bennett into a full-time position with the organization.

Ms. Bennett (pictured left) served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with HCA over the last year assisting with the organization's foreclosure prevention program.  Her work included monitoring the organization's statewide call center, conducting family intakes, developing program materials, tracking Hawaii foreclosure trends, and mobilizing program resources.  Bennett transitioned into a full-time Community Services Specialist position after receiving certification for pre-purchase housing and foreclosure prevention counseling through NeighborWorks America in August.  She will continue to work out of HCA's Honolulu office assisting families interested in buying and renting homes.

Ms. Vea (pictured right) joined HCA in October to assist with the development of organization's new renter education program and curriculum with families in transitional housing on Oahu's leeward coast.  Before coming to HCA, she served in AmeriCorps with the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps as a youth team leader and later as a fund development specialist with the organization's Kupu Program.  Born and raised on Kauai, Ms. Vea graduated with an International Studies degree from Wells College in upstate New York.  Now living in Waianae with her aunt she will split her time working at partner transitional shelters and HCA's Honolulu office.

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 HONOLULU, HI - After a record breaking year in total loan volume, Hawaii Community Lending (HCL) welcomes two new loan officers, Sonja Gonzaga and Jon Arbles.  Gonzaga and Arbles will assist in providing families with access to mortgage capital with a focus on addressing the unique needs of homestead communities across the state. 

 Ms. Gonzaga (pictured right) comes to HCL with 7 years experience in the  industry.  Having worked for Desert Valley Mortgage in Las Vegas and Fidelity National Title Insurance Company as a sales representative on Oahu's leeward coast, she brings with her a wealth of knowledge in escrow, marketing, and mortgage lending.  Born and raised on Oahu, Gonzaga will be working from HCL's Honolulu office.

Mr. Arbles (pictured left) has 7 years experience in mortgage lending and will represent HCL on Hawaii Island.  Having grown up in Hilo, he recently returned home from Seattle, WA where he graduated from Seattle University and later served as branch manager for Washington Mutual and Chase Bank.  Prior to joining HCL, Arbles served Hawaii Island residents as manager of Hawaii Federal State Federal Credit Union.

Ms. Gonzaga and Mr. Arbles will be assisting families in upcoming Hawaiian Homestead projects including Laiopua Village 5 on Hawaii Island and Kumuhao in Waimanalo.

 

For more information or to get a loan through HCL please call (toll-free) 1.866.400.1116.

 

Hawaii Community Lending is the mortgage program of Hawaiian Community Assets and is dedicated to assisting families achieve and sustain homeownership.  HCL provides loan origination and packaging services statewide both on and off Hawaiian Home Lands.  Net proceeds earned go back into the community to directly support financial and homebuyer education programs.

HCA Expands Youth Program with Matched Savings for Hawaii Island Youth

HILO, HI - HCA secured funds from Hawaii County Department of Research and Development in August to serve 150 Hawaii Island youth, ages 13-24, with free, culturally-appropriate financial education over the next year.  The funds allowed HCA to conduct 2 train-the-trainer sessions on island  for service providers, teachers, and individuals interested in starting youth financial education programs using Kahua Waiwai, Opio Edition©, purchase curriculum for distribution to trained trainers, and launch a new matched savings program for youth.

The 2-day train-the-trainer sessions took place in Hilo and Kona and provided an overview of the Kahua Waiwai curriculum, sample teaching activities, local job/career training resources, and basics of program development and evaluation.  The sessions  were attended by staff and teachers from Salvation Army, YWCA-Hawaii Island, Hale Kipa, Kamehameha Schools, Mauna Loa School, Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union, Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center, Catholic Charities, Ocean View Organization, and Laiopua 2020 Homestead.

"Hawaii Island has taken a leadership role among our statewide partners in implementing youth financial education programs using  Kahua Waiwai," says HCA Program Coordinator, Jeff Gilbreath noting over half of the existing Kahua Waiwai Opio Collaborative partner organizations are found on Hawaii Island.   "The level of commitment and drive our Hawaii Island trainers possess for bringing this crucial, life skills education to their youth is inspiring."

With additional Hawaii County funds, HCA has launched a pilot matched savings program in partnership with HOPE Hawaii Services, Inc (formerly Office for Social Ministry), Panaewa Hawaiian Homelands Community Association, and Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center in Kona.  The program will provide 20 youth participants with a 3:1 match on savings up to $100.  During enrollment in the program,  participants will be equipped with age-appropriate and culturally-relevant financial education training, establish a long-term savings goal, commit themselves to 30 hours of volunteer service in their community, and apply a cost-benefit analysis that measures impacts of the savings goal on themselves, their family, community, and the natural environment, now and in the future.

"Hawaii County's willingness to support innovative projects like our Youth MATCH (Managing Assets to Change Hawaii) program provides a unique opportunity to show how a comprehensive approach to family asset building, which combines culturally-relevant, age-appropriate financial education training with community organizing and matched savings opportunities, allows our communities to take the lead in strengthening the money management skills and asset wealth of rising generations," concludes Gilbreath.

For more information about HCA's youth financial education program, contact Program Coordinator, Jeff Gilbreath at 587.7653 or via email at jeff@hawaiiancommunity.net.