Congresswoman Hirono, Congresswoman Hanabusa, and Congressman Young Introduce Measure Supporting Native Hawaiian Homeownership
Washington, DC – July 28, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Hawaii Congresswomen Mazie K. Hirono and Colleen Hanabusa and Alaska Congressman Don Young today introduced a bipartisan bill to continue programs providing housing assistance for low-income Native Hawaiian families. H.R. 2648, the Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act of 2011, also creates homeownership opportunities for Native Hawaiians by expanding the State of Hawaii’s Department of Hawaiian Home Land’s access to loan guarantees.
“This type of federal support helps Native Hawaiians fulfill their dreams of owning a home by providing home loans or helping with a down payment,” said Congresswoman Hirono. “It also provides loans to help families rehabilitate homes that have fallen into disrepair.
“It’s important to continue to work across party lines to make sure we preserve these types of programs that help our families. I would like to thank Congresswoman Hanabusa and Congressman Young for supporting this measure.”
“The Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant program helps fulfill a trust obligation this Congress created in 1920 that recognized it was necessary to return Native Hawaiians to the land in order to preserve their culture, their tradition and values,” said Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa. “This bipartisan program helps build affordable homes and provides eligible, low-income Native Hawaiian families with housing opportunities.”
“Congress has stalled for far too long on this issue,” said Congressman Young. “Access to affordable housing is crucial and this bipartisan legislation will expand opportunity for countless Native Hawaiians. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation and will continue to work with my colleagues to make sure we fulfill our commitment to the Native Hawaiian people.”
Passed by Congress in 1996, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) reauthorized a system of housing assistance provided to tribes by HUD through the Indian Housing Block Grant program. This program provides funds directly to tribes for housing services as determined by the tribes themselves.
In 2000, the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant was established under NAHASDA to help another indigenous people, the Native Hawaiians. Funds for this grant are administered by the State of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the entity charged with carrying out the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“The block grant program has been an incredible resource for our Native Hawaiian beneficiaries,” said Hawaiian Homes Commission Chairman Alapaki Nahale-a. “I would like to thank Congresswoman Hirono for her leadership along with Congresswoman Hanabusa and Congressman Don Young of Alaska for their work on this important bipartisan bill. More than 6,000 families have received home buyer education through our Home Ownership Assistance Program (HOAP) program and the department has developed hundreds of new home sites since this program was created by Congress in 2000. We look forward to working with our partners in Native Hawaiian communities and with the Federal government to ensure these resources are available to Native Hawaiian families for many years to come.”
Contact:
Marvin Buenconsejo
(808) 541-1986
