Section 8 Families Achieve Their "Homeownership Dream"

Judy Pulido, City's FSS HOP Programs: Vickie Punua-McGinnis, City's FSS-HOP Case Manager; Jerilyn Anderton, new homebuyer; Mike Flores, HUD Public Housing Director; Helen Wai, Homeownership Educator contracted by DHHL; Clarice Osako, USDA -Rural Development Program; Claudine Allen, HUD Native Hawaiian Program Specialist ; Myra Ozawa, Hawaii National Bank (Home Start Plus Program).

A single parent with three children was able to purchase her 4-bedroom, 3-bath home in Kapolei for $290,600. Ms. Anderton is a successful graduate of both the City's Section 8 Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program and its Homeownership Option Program (HOP). Through her participation in these programs she was able to secure full-time employment and rebuild her credit after bankruptcy. She saved for down payment and closing costs, complete financial education and homebuyer education.

"History has been made!" Mayor Mufi Hannemann proudly announced upon learning that Jerilyn Anderton became the first Section 8 homeownership participant to purchase a new home built on Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) land. The Mayor stated that "This opportunity would not have been possible without the collaboration of several private and governmental agencies that assisted Ms. Anderton in achieving the American Dream of homeownership."

Jerilyn couldn't be happier about her new home. She is thankful for "Her Angels" - the many partner agencies who "counseled and guided her in the right direction." Ultimately, together they made this opportunity possible for her and her family. Jerilyn's "Angels" include: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) Grant Program; City and County of Honolulu's Section 8 Rental Assistance Branch and the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) and Homeownership Option Programs (HOP); U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Direct Loan Program (USDA-RD); Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle and local partner, Hawaii National Bank, and the Home$tart Plus program; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) Homeownership Assistance Program (HOAP); Helen Wai, LLC and Hale Huaka'i for Homebuyer education; American Savings Bank and Alu Like, Incorporated Assets for Independence Individual Development Account Program.

Ms. Anderton is the City's 23rd Section 8 Homeowner (since 2003.) She is the 9th program participant to receive a monthly homeownership assistance payment from the City's Section 8 Rental Assistance Branch. The HOP staff from the City's Section 8 Rental Assistance Branch is assisting over two hundred Section 8 families in both the FSS and HOP programs to work toward economic stability and to prepare for homeownership.