Schatz Announces Over $11 Million For Affordable Housing Assistance

Honolulu, HI - Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced $11,162,104 in federal housing grants for the City & County of Honolulu. The City & County of Honolulu will receive the Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Shelter Grant, HOME and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS funding to distribute to private and non-profit entities to create better affordable housing for low-and moderate-income residents.

“Even those with a decent job have a tough time making it in Hawai‘i because of a lack of affordable housing,” said Senator Brian Schatz. “Especially as the economy recovers and real estate prices go up, making sure working families and our most vulnerable have access to housing is more important than ever.”  

The City & County of Honolulu previously approved projects designated for federal assistance including:

• Providing emergency shelter, clothing, life skills training, support and referral services to women and children victimized by domestic violence and/or homelessness;
• Construction of an abused and neglected children's residential facility to assist at risk youth in need of temporary shelter from potential abuse or neglect, runaways, or those transitioning out of various outreach and placement programs;
• Expanding supportive services for families with children transitioning from homelessness to long-term sustainable independence;
• Renovation of facilities for low income seniors including the installation of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant ramp, fencing and a security gate, automatic doors, addition of ADA bathrooms, replacement of roof and ceiling tiles;
• Increasing outreach efforts by providing awareness about basic dental care and providing free dental care in public housing communities including dental exams, x-rays, cleaning, fillings, and extractions;
• Rehabilitation of accessible affordable apartment facilities for very low-income adults with physical disabilities and/or traumatic brain injury.

Specifically, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the City & County of Honolulu:

$7,817,498 in Community Development Block Grants: This program provides resources to address a wide range of community needs by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities through the expansion and retention of businesses.

 

$2,344,520 from the HOME program: This program helps expand the supply of affordable housing to low-income families often through a partnership with local governments and non-profits for a wide range of activities such as housing programs to build, buy and/or rehabilitate affordable housing for rent or homeownership or provide direct rental assistance.

$549,362 in Emergency Shelter Grants: This program provides funding for eligible subrecipients to improve the quality and number of emergency homeless shelters so that individuals and families may quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.

 

$450,724 from the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program: This program provides housing assistance and related supportive services for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

 

 

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