Jul 2011

HCA Invites You to Its Annual Housing Luncheon

• 2011 HCA Annual Housing Luncheon
• August 23, 2011
• 12:30-1:45pm
• Hawaii Convention Center
• Keynote Speaker: DHHL Chairman, Alapaki Nahale-a
• $100 ticket, $1000 table (sponsorships available) 

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Gilbreath Named HCA Executive Director

HONOLULU, HI - The HCA Board named Jeff Gilbreath (pictured right) Executive Director effective July 1, 2011.  Mr. Gilbreath replaces Michelle Kauhane who served as the organization's director since 2006 and was instrumental in building HCA from its grassroots beginnings to its place as a statewide service provider.

"HCA will  continue its work by investing in our next generation, educating and engaging our families, and empowering our communities with the tools and knowledge necessary to shape our neighborhoods in ways that promote the well-being of all, over and above personal wealth and gain," said Gilbreath.  "Our youth, our families, and our communities are our Hawaiian Community Assets."

Mr. Gilbreath brings to HCA 10 years experience in nonprofit program development and management, a strong background in Federal and State policy promoting sustainable communities, and experience training and mobilizing staff and volunteers.  During his time at HCA, Gilbreath has developed and implemented the organization's youth financial education, tax/FAFSA preparation, youth and renter matched savings, and financial literacy for families living in transitional shelters programs.

"I am confident that Jeff will take HCA to new levels.  He has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to HCA's mission and has been integral to program expansion over the last three and a half years," said Kauhane.  "I applaud the decision of our Board of Directors.  Jeff ensures the continuity of HCA's programs and is grounded with a solid history of working in community.  I am proud to be passing the baton to such a talented young man."

Ms. Kauhane leaves HCA to serve as Deputy Director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands under Chairman Alapaki Nahale-a.

"The HCA team gives our aloha to Michelle for her strength and leadership," continued Gilbreath.  "We accept the responsibility of continuing her amazing work and are excited for her as she moves forward to empower Homestead beneficiaries in her new position."  

Youth MATCH Provides Opportunity for Hawaii Teens to Build Long-Term Savings 

Pictured Above: HCA Community Services Specialist, Kelly Lincoln, and Bank of Hawaii Representative, Alan Shiraishi with Youth MATCH participants from  HOPE Hawaii Services, Inc.

HILO, HI - Through a grant from the Hawaii County Department of Research and Development, HCA has established a pilot matched savings project to assist Hawaii teenagers build long-term savings and become active participants in our local economy.

Entitled Youth MATCH (Managing Assets to Change Hawaii), the program provides participants with a 3:1 match on savings up to $100 for purchase of a goal related to job/career training,  education, housing, or small business development.  In June, 27 Hawaii Island youth, ages 13-24, enrolled in the program after successfully completing a Kahua Waiwai financial education workshop series delivered by HCA or trained trainers from one of its project partners; HOPE Hawaii Services, Inc, Panaewa Hawaiian Homelands Community Association, Ka Hana Noeau, and Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center-Kona.

"Youth MATCH is truly a community effort," says HCA Community Services Specialist, Kelly Lincoln.  "HCA is responsible for the curriculum, training, and oversight of the program, while our community-based partners assist in the delivery of ongoing financial education and case  management."  Bank of Hawaii is the program's financial institution partner providing participants access to Youth MATCH savings accounts through its Hawaii Island branches, continues Lincoln. 

An early success story in the program involves youth from HOPE Hawaii Services, Inc (pictured above), who after completing a Kahua Waiwai youth financial education workshop series worked with HOPE staff to develop a small recycling venture collecting cans and bottles from its transitional shelters so they can earn the money necessary for their monthly deposits. 

"Youth MATCH is helping our opio think outside-the-box on how they can put money in their pockets and implement spending and savings habits that will set them up for long-term success," concluded Lincoln. 

For more information about the program, contact Ms. Lincoln at 808.934.0801 or via email at kelly@hawaiiancommunity.net.

HAWAII - In June, HCA won a grant from First Nations' Native Youth and Culture Fund to deliver free culturally-relevant financial education to youth across the state using its Kahua Waiwai: Building a Foundation of Wealth(c) curriculum.  The grant will also allow HCA to establish a "mentoring" component for trainers who have completed a Kahua Waiwai train-the-trainer session and to expand the curriculum's reach by making it accessible online.

"We mahalo First Nations for their support in educating future generations on personal finance from a native perspective," says HCA Executive Director, Jeff Gilbreath.  "The funds will allow us to engage more of our youth and communities in hands-on, community-based financial education at a time when every member of every family is being called on to do more with less."

Through its statewide offices, HCA will coordinate and conduct the monthly workshops.  The workshop schedule is set to be finalized by August.

For more information about HCA's youth financial education program, please contact Gilbreath at 808-587-7653, (toll-free) 1.866.400.1116 or via email at jeff@hawaiiancommunity.net.

WAIANAE - HCA was awarded $316,678 from Office of Hawaiian Affairs in April to establish Renter Matched Savings and Credit Builder Loan Programs for homeless families living in transitional shelters on the Waianae Coast.  The funding will also support HCA's delivery of its Administration for Native Americans funded 3-year project to provide financial literacy/renter education and credit counseling to 300 transitional shelter residents to allow for successful transition into permanent housing.

 "During financial education workshops and credit counseling our families have identified a lack of money and access to credit as two major barriers keeping them for successfully transitioning into permanent housing," says HCA Executive Director, Jeff Gilbreath.  "We want to mahalo OHA for this funding, which will allow us in Hawaii to address these issues by establishing financial products that are specific to the lifestyles of our homeless families and rooted in the concept of shared responsibility."

The Renter Matched Savings Program will be based off HCA's existing Homestead and Youth MATCH Savings Programs and will provide project participants with a 5:1 match on savings up to $500 for a total of $3,000 to cover the costs of rental and utility deposits, moving expenses, and other costs associated with securing a rental apartment.  Participants are required to save for 6-24 months and engage in individualized credit counseling and family financial education workshops to receive their match. 

HCA's Credit Builder Loan Program was launched in December 2010 through its nonprofit lending program, Hawaii Community Lending.  The Credit Builder Loans are fixed at a 7.5% interest rate over a term of 6-12 months with the maximum loan amount at $250.  HCA secures the loans allowing them to function as a forced savings product as well, in which participants "re-pay" over a 1 year period and once the loan is repaid in-full receive their $250 back.  HCA has a portfolio of 10 borrowers who are current on their payments.  

In order to expand financial services and products to homeless and other low-income Hawaii families, HCA is reaching out to local banks, credit unions, foundations, and the general public to invest in its Renter Matched Savings and Credit Builder Loan Programs.  If you or your organization would like to invest in our local families or setup a presentation on how to support such programs, please contact Gilbreath at 808.587.7653 or via email at jeff@hawaiiancommunity.net 

New Team Members Join the HCA Family 

HONOLULU - In June HCA brought on new team members to assist in its statewide delivery of financial education and housing counseling services.  Through a comprehensive capacity building strategy, the organization is working to train community members to better equip more families with the skills necessary to achieve and sustain economic self-sufficiency.  

Noelle Kai Desaki, Community Services Manager

Noelle Kai Desaki has worked with HCA since 2007 and has extensive experience in lending and housing education.  Having served most recently as an HCA homebuyer education trainer, she comes on board full-time with the organization as its Community Services Manager.  Ms. Kai Desaki will be responsible for conducting homebuyer/financial education workshops and training, overseeing outreach and communications,  and securing partnerships with community-based, financial, and education organizations to further the work of HCA in communities statewide.  

Roxanne Hanawahine, Executive Assistant 

Roxanne Hanawahine comes to HCA with over 10 years experience as a volunteer and Board member of the Waimanalo Homestead Association.  A 2nd generation homesteader since 1969, Ms. Hanawahine's duties will include client intake, counseling and education coordination, file management, and overall executive assistance.  She is a proud mother of 3 and a tutu of 2 young keiki, ages 1 and 2. 

Randy Shiroma, Youth Financial Education Trainer

Randy Shiroma joins HCA as a volunteer with a background in youth services, marketing, and digital design.  Mr. Shiroma built a strong relationship with the organization during the development of HCA's Kahua Waiwai, Opio Edition(c) curriculum when he trained 7 youth to provide professional assistance in design, illustration, and layout.  He was the first trainer to successfully complete HCA's Kahua Waiwai Opio Train-the-Trainer program and will assist in the delivery of HCA's youth financial education workshops.  Mr. Shiroma is also Executive Director of Youth Vision Hawaii and lives with his wife and 2 daughters in Kalihi Valley. 

David Thayer, Business Development Specialist

David Thayer is serving HCA as Business Development Specialist for the summer helping to establish the organization as a certified Native Community Development Institution and develop its micro-lending and loan packaging services.  Having spent most of his life in Massachusetts and California, he is currently getting his Masters of Business Administration from the University of California, Davis where he is focusing on Entrepreneurship and Finance.  When not working, David can be found catching surf at Ala Moana or hiking Mt. Olympus.

HAWAII - On May 5th Governor Abercrombie signed SB651 to establish a new mandatory mediation program for families in non-judicial foreclosure, place a temporary moratorium on foreclosures, and provide homeowners currently experiencing foreclosure with much needed relief from a crisis that has engulfed Hawaii families since 2006.

"By establishing a mandatory mediation program in the state of Hawaii, we are promoting financial education as a solution to our foreclosure crisis," says HCA Executive Director, Jeff Gilbreath.  "Allowing families and lenders to sit down face-to-face in the company of a 3rd party mediator will help build understanding of the foreclosure process, mobilize resources to mitigate against it, and  steps forward to ensure a deal is reach that is best for the borrower, the lender, and our community." 

The Hawaii law, hailed by many as the strongest home retention law in the nation, was modeled after a Nevada law passed in 2009 which resulted in a decrease in home foreclosures by 40% within its first year of implementation.  A summary of the Hawaii law is included below:

1) ALLOWS homeowners already in non-judicial foreclosure to convert to judicial foreclosure until August 15, 2011

• This will allow the homeowner to go before a judge to hear their case BEFORE the foreclosure is allowed to proceed.
• If the homeowner chooses to convert, they must complete the conversion by August 15, 2011.
• For legal advice and list of pro bono lawyers in Hawaii, contact Legal Aid Society at 808-536-4302.
• Homeowners can get started on your foreclosure conversion petition at: http://www.courts.state.hi.us/docs/court_rules/pdf/2011_rcp_temp_adopt_ada.pdf

2) STOPS all new foreclosures until October 1, 2011 when new mandatory mediation program is scheduled to start

3) CREATES a new mandatory mediation program for Hawaii homeowners in foreclosure starting October 1, 2011

• Program starts October 1, 2011 and will run until September 30, 2014
• Is open to homeowners electing the non-judicial foreclosure path
• If non-judicial foreclosure pursued:

            - Lenders and owner-occupants must take part in the mandatory mediation program

            - Owner-occupants of residential property that are in foreclosure have the opportunity to

               meet face-to-face with lenders to modify their loans or work out a payment plan within

               three months

            - The foreclosure process would be suspended until the dispute resolution is complete

            - If the parties don't come to an agreement during the mediation, the foreclosure may

              proceed "along the timeline as it existed on the date before the mortgagor elected dispute

              resolution, and may proceed as otherwise provided by law"

           - Owner-occupants and mortgagees are each charged $300 in a process that must wrap up

              within 60 days of the first scheduled meeting

• If judicial foreclosure pursued:

            - Owner-occupants must petition the court to have their non-judicial foreclosure case

               converted to a judicial foreclosure case. This must occur within 30 days of the              

     homeowner getting notice of foreclosure proceedings.

            - The law requires the party commencing the foreclosure action to let owner-occupants

               know of their right to petition to move the non-judicial proceeding into court.

            - Lenders have the right, under the law, to seek deficiency judgments if the case gets moved

              into court.