Honolulu Field Office Newsletter
Fall 2002
Na Hana Ku Aloha
�Achieving Through the Spirit of Aloha� |
Volume 4 Issue 4 |
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Hawaii Awarded $1.8 Million in New Grants
Assistant Secretary Michael Liu announced $1,769,497 in HUD grants
to two colleges and a campus of the University of Hawaii on September
13 at the First Annual Native Hawaiian Conference. The new grantees
for the Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities
(AN/NHIAC) Program include:
- Leeward
Community College -- $579,586 for a food security center, the
Waianae Organic Agricultural Center, in Waianae;
-
Windward Community College -- $590,036 for a training kitchen
and food service program, and a micro-enterprise, life-skills
and jobs training program for the Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood;
and
- University
of Hawaii - West Oahu Campus -- $599,875 to complete the Hana
Marketplace in Hana, Maui to serve as a business incubator entrepreneurial
training for homegrown enterprises, and management skills.
This
is the third year that funds have been awarded for HUD's innovative
AN/NHIAC Program. The grants program provides funding resources
to colleges and universities in Hawaii with at least a 10% undergraduate
enrollment of Native Hawaiian students. The AN/NHIAC is an opportunity
for higher educational institutions to enhance their role and
increase their effectiveness in addressing the community development
needs of the areas they serve. For more information, view the
Office of University Partnerships website (http://www.oup.org) or contact Ramona Mullahey at 522-8185 x249.
Assistant Secretary Liu Addresses Native Hawaiian Conference
HUD Assistant Secretary Michael Liu was a keynote speaker on September
13 at the First Annual Native Hawaiian Conference held at the Sheraton
Waikiki Hotel. The conference, which was sponsored by the Council
for Native Hawaiian Advancement, included presentations from a variety
of public and private organizations active in native Hawaiian issues.
Mr.
Liu's remarks were well received by a crowd of several hundred.
In keeping with the conference theme of "Strength Through Unity,"
Mr. Liu described the goals and objectives of HUD in promoting homeownership,
especially among minority and underserved populations. Drawing upon
his background as a Hawaii resident and 10-year state legislator,
he indicated that the homeownership rate in Hawaii was among the
lowest in the nation. To counter this trend, Mr. Liu highlighted
several initiatives recently undertaken by HUD Secretary Mel Martinez.
Among
these initiatives was the creation of the Native Hawaiian Housing
Block Grant and Section 184A loan guarantee programs. These programs
provide annual allocations to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
(DHHL) to develop affordable housing for low-income native Hawaiians
residing on Hawaiian Home Lands. Mr. Liu announced that HUD had
just approved the initial housing plan submitted by DHHL and released
$9.6 million in grant funds and $1 million in loan guarantee authority,
expected to leverage up to $40 million in private financing.
Mr.
Liu also announced the creation of a new staff position in the Hawaii
State Office of HUD to administer the grant and loan guarantee programs.
Although the position will be local, it will report directly to
the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Programs in Washington,
D.C.
Mr.
Liu's visit was one of several he has made to his native Hawaii
this year. He has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the housing
needs of the state and a particular interest in the problems faced
by native Hawaiian communities. The Native Hawaiian Block Grant
and Section 184A loan guarantee programs promise to bring substantial
new resources to address these needs.
Maui's First Community Homebuyer Fair
HUD, along with 16 housing partners, participated in Maui's first
Community Homebuyer Fair. It was held on Saturday, August 24, 2002,
at the Maui War Memorial Gymnasium. The Maui fair completed the
series of successful Community Homebuyer fairs held this year. In
June four other fairs were held in different communities across
Oahu.
The
Community Homebuyer Fair is designed to guide and assist people
and families interested in becoming homeowners. Participants learned
about qualifying for a mortgage, how homebuyer education and housing
counseling can help them become a homeowner and what steps are necessary
in the home buying process. Housing industry representatives were
available to answer the numerous questions posed by approximately
70 families who attended.
Homestreet
Bank, U.S. Financial Mortgage, Hawaii Community Lending, Irwin Mortgage,
and American Savings Bank were kept busy assisting people with mortgage
pre-qualifications. Our other HUD partners, the Department of Hawaiian
Home Lands, USDA Rural Development, Carol Ball Associates, Maui
Appraisal Company, Bishop Insurance, Hawaiian Community Assets,
Alu Like, Self Help Housing Corporation, Hale Mahaolu, Maui Electric
Company and Maui Habitat for Humanity provided information on their
specific programs and services. While Mom and Dad visited the different
agencies, the children expressed their ideas about their ideal home
and environment via our coloring station.
A
special "Mahalo Nui" is extended to Blossom Feiteira of
Hawaiian Community Assets for handling all of the logistical coordination
that made the Maui Community Homebuyer Fair possible!
HUD Partners With BIA on Fair Housing Accessibility
HUD collaborated with the Building Industry Association in August
to present an informational briefing on Fair Housing Accessibility
to BIA members. The presentation was sponsored by the Hawaii State
Disability and Communication Access Board and featured speakers
from the U.S Department of Justice - Civil Rights Division, Housing
& Civil Enforcement Section: Je Yon Jung, senior trial attorney
was the lead presenter with Mark J. Mazz, AIA, architect providing
resource support.
Both
speakers strongly emphasized the cost to builders and developers
due to noncompliance, and provided actual case situations where
penalties were required due to noncompliance.
This
is the second year that HUD and DOJ have partnered to provide such
outreach. As the federal government steps up its enforcement of
the Fair Housing Act, understanding the Fair Housing Accessibility
requirements is critical to builders and developers of multifamily
housing projects covered by the Fair Housing Act amendment of 1988.
HUD
is the federal agency responsible for enforcing the Fair Housing
Act. The burden of compliance rests with the person or persons who
design and construct these covered multifamily dwellings. The guidelines
in the Fair Housing Act Design Manual, published by HUD, provides
a "safe harbor" for compliance with the accessibility
guidelines of the Act.
Ensuring Equal Housing Opportunity in Hawaii
U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie in cooperation with HUD,
U.S. DOJ and several State Agencies sponsored two intense Fair Housing
training workshops in August. The first workshop provided a general,
but comprehensive overview of the Federal and State laws, which
prohibit discrimination in residential real estate transactions.
Close to 50 people attended this workshop. In addition to receiving
presentations on the Fair Housing Act and the process of its enforcement,
workshop participants were treated to special presentations on Pets
in Housing, Elderly Housing/Aging in Place, the Landlord Tenant
Code, and Consumer Protection as it relates to the residential housing.
The second workshop was equally as intense as the first. This ½-day
session focused on the Fair Housing Amendments Act Design and Construction
requirements. Attorney Je Yon Jung and architect Mark Mazz, AIA
with the Department of Justice provided exceptional training. Attendees,
basically architects, were provided a concise, yet thorough, overview
of the Fair Housing Act accessibility requirements for persons with
disabilities that are specific to the construction of new multifamily
dwellings. The instructors clarified the Act's 1988 amendments which
set forth the following seven design and construction requirements:
(1) an accessible entrance on an accessible route; (2) accessible
and usable public and common-use areas; (3) usable doors; (4) an
accessible route into and through dwelling units; (5) accessible
light switches, electrical outlets, and environmental controls;
(6) reinforced walls for grab bars in bathrooms; and (7) usable
kitchens and bathrooms.
For
additional information on the Fair Housing Act and the Accessibility
Guidelines please visit HUD's website.
CPD Hosts Training on Section 3 and Section 504
The
Community Planning and Development (CPD) Division recently hosted
training seminars for grantees and non-profit agencies on the requirements
of Section 3 and Section 504.
Section
3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 provides that
wherever HUD assistance is given for housing and community development,
to the greatest extent feasible, economic opportunities will be
given to residents and businesses in that area. During the two-day
seminar, participants learned about the Section 3 requirements,
including the barriers to these opportunities and how to overcome
the barriers. Participants also learned how to document and report
Section 3 activity as well as deal with Section 3 complaints.
Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against
individuals with disabilities in any program or activity receiving
Federal financial assistance. This one-day seminar was repeated
on two consecutive days to allow for the maximum number of participants.
Attendees discovered that when governmental and non-profit entities
received government funding, the program accessibility requirements
applied to ALL programs undertaken by the recipient of federal funds,
not just the programs that received the funds. Participants also
learned about the requirements for establishing and maintaining
a transition plan that identifies Section 504 non-compliance and
the agencies plans and priorities to achieve compliance. Self-evaluation
and reporting requirements were also discussed.
Both
training sessions were well received. Participants came prepared
with questions that created a lively and engaging seminar. Mr. Rocky
Wade, a consultant with Tonya, Inc. conducted both seminars.
American Samoa Receives a Rural Housing Grant
In August the Bush Administration announced that the Native Resources
Developer, Inc., in Pago Pago, American Samoa, will receive $145,000
in Rural Housing and Economic Development (RHED) Funds. The funds
will help Native Resources to hire two full-time staff and purchase
a computer system to improve financial accountability and monitoring
of its housing program. The grant will result in the construction
of 30 new units of single-family affordable housing as part of a
larger housing development effort aimed at constructing homes for
low-income residents. The purpose of the RHED program is to build
state and local capacity for rural housing and economic development
and to support innovative housing and economic development activities
in rural areas. The program is HUD's first endeavor targeted to
address rural issues. A total of $25,000,000 was awarded to rural
communities in 33 states and territories to help create innovative
housing and economic development solutions including rehabilitation,
new construction, job creation, business retention and strategic
planning.
Newsletter Information
We
appreciate any comments or input you have about our quarterly newsletter,
Na Hana Ku Aloha. You may send your comments and input on
information you would like covered in this newsletter by sending
an e-mail to Ramona Mullahey (ramona_mullahey@hud.gov). If you have a new address, please e-mail that information
to Ramona or call her at (808) 522-8175, ext. 249.
Calendar
of Events
Town
Hall Meeting. October 11, 2002 at the State Capitol Auditorium.
Town Hall Meeting with the President's Advisory Commission on Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders. Contact: Representative Barbara
Marumoto at 586-6310.
Building
Industry Association Parade of Homes.
October 12 & 13 and October 19 & 20, 2002
General
Election Day. November 5, 2002
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