Newsletter Spring 2002

Information by State  Print version

HUD Announces $2.2 Billion in Grant Programs

There is $2.2 billion available in the FY2002 SuperNOFA (Notice of Funding Availability). The SuperNOFA is HUD's way of streamlining the process for announcing a wide variety of competitive grant programs at one time. Each grant program has its own application process and its own deadline. Under each program covered by the SuperNOFA, you can download the application kit from our web site.

HUD will conduct a live satellite broadcast for each grant program to help potential applicants prepare an application. If you have a movable satellite dish, you can tune in to the broadcasts from your home or office. Check our web site for the satellite coordinates.

If you wish to view any of the live satellite broadcasts in the HUD Hawaii State Office, please call us at 522-8175 x 0 to express your interest and to reserve a space at least 2 days prior to a scheduled broadcast. This will ensure that we can accommodate you.

As an option to the satellite broadcasts, you can also view live webcasts or webcasts from our video library over the Internet. You can link to the webcast associated with each grant program.

If you would like to order a hard copy of an application kit (where kits are available), a videotape of any broadcast, or if you have any questions about the SuperNOFA, please call the SuperNOFA Information Center at (800) HUD-8929 or (800) HUD-2209 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.

New Security Procedures. There are new security procedures that impact the submission of applications. HUD will not accept any hand-delivered applications. This includes applications specified to go to the Hawaii State Office. Applications must be submitted through one of four commercial carriers - DHL, Falcon Carrier, FedEx, UPS or United States Postal Service (using certificate of delivery, USPS form No. 38-17). Be sure to read the instructions provided in each program NOFA carefully!

Moving the Economy Forward

On January 26, 2002, the Hawaii State Office, in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Agency, the State of Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and the City and County of Honolulu held an Economic Development Workshop for the island of Oahu. The event called "Kokua Oahu" (Help for Oahu) combined business seminars and information with a job fair. As one attendee put it, "it was the best concentration of business and job information in one place that he had ever seen".

Originally, the event was planned for mid-September 2001. But September 11th altered the mood of the community and its prospects for economic growth. The new environment created a need for economic workshops focused on the immediate concerns of the community. Those needs included emergency economic information, long-term survival techniques and jobs.

More than 3,000 people came to the Blaisdell Center to attend workshops on starting or sustaining a business, fund-raising for non-profits, and survival techniques for making-it through an economic crisis. Attendees were introduced to job opportunities while others had a chance to discuss tax concerns with the IRS, learn how to do a business plan or obtain a business license. There were over 100 exhibitors with resource information and possibilities for employment.

We want to recognize the lead event organizers for their support: Manny Menendez, Executive Director of the City's Office of Economic Development and Mike Amii, Director of the City's Department of Community Services.

"Seek Professional Help . . . Before It's Too Late!"

Was the theme for the 2002 BIA Home Building and Remodeling Show, sponsored by First Hawaiian Bank and BIA-Hawaii. The show took place January 31 through February 3 at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall in Honolulu. Over 100 exhibitors participated in this year's show, including the HUD Hawaii State Office. Staff from the HUD office was on hand to promote our single-family mortgage insurance programs including the FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Loan Program and the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage. The HUD Homes for Sale Program also generated a great deal of interest. HUD staff was joined by personnel from PEMCO, Ltd. (HUD's management and marketing contractor for HUD Homes in Hawaii) and Abe Lee Realty (PEMCO's Broad Listing Broker) to promote the HUD Homes for Sale in Hawaii. The USDA Rural Development, one of our national homeownership partners, also participated in the show to promote their home loan programs.

This year's show also featured some special events such as the Hawaii BuiltGreen Steel Speed House, the first to be built in the United States. Over 60 licensed contractors worked together to build this house in only seven hours, as a demonstration project for Hawaii BuiltGreen materials and techniques. Energy-efficient features of the house include the use of recycled products and solar energy, and building technology that conserves resources and reduces waste. The home was on display and open for public tours throughout the show.

Another highlight of this year's show was the demonstration of delicious recipes prepared by some of Hawaii's favorite chefs. The public was treated to free samples of tiger prawns, sushi, and other pupus. A variety of educational seminars were also presented. An assortment of building products were featured to enhance your next building project, a presentation on whether to build new or re-do to help you make that determination, and HUD's own Gayle Ota presented a session on preparing for homeownership.

Congratulations to the Building Industry Association of Hawaii for another successful Home Building and Remodeling Show!

Loss Mitigation Training in Honolulu

The Hawaii State Office has strived to achieve increased homeownership through homebuyer fairs, participation in home and remodeling shows, homebuyer education and partnerships with government agencies, nonprofits and industry representatives. Once homeownership is accomplished, it is vital to assure the homeowner, lender and housing counseling agencies are aware of HUD loss mitigation tools available to borrowers during times of financial hardship. Hence, on February 20 and 21, 2002, HUD Santa Ana Homeownership Center (SAHOC) staff Rhonda Rivera and Tiana Gaertner along with Hawaii staff member Gayle Ota conducted loss mitigation training in Honolulu at the Hawaii State Office for lenders, housing counseling agencies, nonprofits and State government agencies. Shelby Rigg, SAHOC Deputy Director, also attended the session. The training was welcomed and well received by all attendees since it was the first of its kind presented since the inception of the Santa Ana HOC in 1998. Based on participant comments, the session was a rousing success.

For more information on Loss Mitigation, please visit the HUD National Servicing Center web site.

"Teaming Up For Change"

The Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH), the State's public housing agency, along with HUD, held a workshop on February 21, 2002, specifically for the public housing community. The "Teaming Up for Change" training workshop brought together residents, service providers, the HCDCH Board of Directors, management staff, and HUD staff to provide information to help residents develop the skills needed to create a better future.

The all-day event was held at the Koolau Golf Club in Kaneohe. The featured speaker was former State Legislator Michael Liu, who is now HUD's Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing in Washington, D.C. Mr. Liu oversees the administration of all public housing, Section 8 rental assistance and Native American programs. Assistant Secretary Liu shared information about the organizational changes occurring within HUD. He assured the audience that he would remain sensitive to Hawaii's unique situation and would also expect that Hawaii's HUD grantees perform well.

Workshop participants were offered a series of tracks that covered a broad range of topics to help build partnerships and collaborations needed for an empowered public housing community. These concurrent sessions focused on such topics as: Developing Leadership Potential, Resolving Conflicts in Communities, Team-building Skills, Improving Personal Credit & Finances, Listening to the Voice of Youth as well as Crime and Safety. Session speakers included HCDCH staff, HUD Public Housing staff from Oregon and San Francisco, and community "experts" who joined together to make this conference a successful first effort.

Finding Affordable Senior Housing Options

Hawaii is generally a very healthy place to live. One of the results of our healthy lifestyle is that Hawaii's elderly population is growing at two to three times the national average. As our population ages and individuals become less able to care for themselves, our need for specialized housing and services becomes more evident.

To address some of the affordable housing options for seniors, several agencies collaborated to put on a conference, entitled "Affordable Supportive Senior Housing: Finding Solutions Together". The intent of the gathering was to bring a broad range of agencies and individuals together to discuss emerging problems and creative solutions. Participating agencies included the City and County of Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division, Catholic Charities Elderly Division, Assisted Living Options Hawaii, and HUD.

About 120 people met at the Hawaii Convention Center on March 1 to share in this discussion. The featured speaker was Dr. Stephen Golant of the University of Florida's Institute on Aging. Dr. Golant is the principal consultant with the National Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Facility Needs for Seniors in the 21st Century, and is considered a nationally recognized specialist in housing and senior issues in the U.S. and Canada. His remarks were based on a 2-year study, the CASERA Project, which examined the ability of elder renters to remain independent, the issues in providing supportive services for frail elderly, and possible service models to address the problem. The complete study can be found here.

Panels moderated by Representative Dennis Arakaki and Alice Lee, Director of Maui County's Department of Housing and Human Concerns, framed the issue and then examined the opportunities and barriers to aging in place and what may be considered best practices in senior housing.

Generally, the results of the conference indicate that it was a place to begin talking about solutions. Implementing solutions, however, is dependent on continuing the discussion, developing comprehensive policy, and achieving broad planning goals.

News from the Multifamily Program

The Wilikina Learning Center

The Wilikina Learning Center, on Oahu, Hawaii, held its Dedication and Blessing Ceremony on March 6, 2002. Attendees from HUD were Mike Flores, Community Builder; Dave Hickman, Supervisory Project Manager; Jane Adaniya, assigned Project Manager; and Darlene Kaholokula, Program Assistant. The Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH), owners of the Wilikina Apartments, used project residual receipts funds to construct and man the multi-purpose community center. This Neighborhood Network Center represents the 7th center opened in the State of Hawaii.

Through the leadership of Ms. Tiva Aga, Service Coordinator, The Wilikina Learning Center will help residents learn computer skills for homework, to do research and job searches through the Internet, create home business plans, and provide a meeting place for the children and the tenant association. It is anticipated that various community-based organizations will utilize the center as part of their educational curricula for job skills training, introduction to computers and internet access, health care, basic adult education, literacy, English as a second language, Graduate Equivalency Diplomas (GED), economic development, youth education, senior services and parenting skills.

On this special day, the residents of Wilikina Apartments recognized the outstanding efforts of its neighbors in the community who helped to beautify the surrounding grounds of the project by removing more than 12 tons of overgrown vegetation and rubbish, clearing the view of Lake Wilson and garden plots for residents. Beautiful orchid leis and special Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to State Representative Marcus Oshiro who coordinated the clean up effort, the men and women of the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division, the Honolulu Police Department, the Wahiawa Community Business Association, students of Leilehua High School, Peterson Farms, Wahiawa Botanical Garden, Rainbow Club of Wahiawa, Urban Real Estate Company (management agent), HCDCH, and HUD.

The Wilikina Learning Center is truly an accomplishment of the tenants, community partners, management agent, and owner of Wilikina Apartments. We at HUD, who attended this ceremony, saw first hand, the pride of accomplishment through their eyes and witnessed how Everyone Can Make A Difference. For more information on Neighborhood Networks, please visit HUD's web site.

Census 2000 Workshop

Jerry Wong, Information Services Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, presented a workshop on "Using Census Data for Funding Proposals" on Thursday, March 14 at the HUD main conference room. The staff from Congressman Neil Abercrombie's office and HUD coordinated the informative session as part of a continuing effort to help bring Federal money to Hawaii via successful grant proposals. For example, in Fiscal Year 1997, census data was instrumental in determining the allocation of $183 billion in more than 100 Federal assistance programs.

The workshop focused on three topics: how to access the Census data; how to access the data for the neighborhood, zip code and block levels; and an introduction to the type of data found in Summary Files 1 & 2 which is currently available on the Census Bureau web site. Summary File 1 contains the population totals and general characteristics and Summary File 2 provides a more detailed view of the population: age, sex, households, families, and occupied housing units.

The goal for the Census Bureau is to provide outreach on Census 2000 to assist people to make the most efficient use of the Census web site to obtain the data they need. The new data products are presented along with a conversation on the limitations of the data. The next workshops are tentatively scheduled for August. Anyone needing assistance with Census data can contact Jerry Wong.

CAK Home Building and Remodeling Expo

First Hawaiian Bank presented the 10th Annual Contractors Association of Kauai Home Building and Remodeling Expo at the Kauai Veterans Center in Lihue on March 15 & 16. The expo featured over 20 exhibitors with products and services to meet everyone's home building and remodeling needs. The cooking demonstrations by featured chefs, such as Sam Choy, was also a popular attraction at the show. Thanks to Lynne Taogoshi of the USDA Rural Development Office on Kauai for inviting the HUD Hawaii State Office to share their booth space. HUD personnel, Claudine Allen and Lynn Lee, were on hand to promote the FHA Single Family Mortgage Insurance Programs.

Congratulations to the Contractors Association of Kauai on another successful expo!

Maui Home Building Seminar

On March 16, 2002, a Home Building Seminar was held at Maui Community College for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) lessees of the Waiohuli lots in Kula, Maui. The purpose of the seminar was to provide the DHHL lessees with information on the overall process of building homes on their Waiohuli lots.

Panel participants in the seminar included: Al Boteilho, Maui Contractors Association; Gwen Derego, Habitat for Humanity; Mark Renschen, Title Guaranty Escrow; Juno Comilang, Miyake Concrete Accessories, Inc.; Daryl Atay, USDA Rural Development; Roger Leremy, Leremy & Leremy Appraisers; Bobbie Kennedy, DHHL; Sharon Norrad, Maui County Land Use & Code Administration; Blossom Feiteira, Hawaiian Community Assets; Carl Cunningham and Winona Kauhane, Hawaii Community Lending; and Gayle Ota, HUD. Each panel member gave a brief overview of the part they play in the home building process. Based on the questions and comments generated by the 65 to 70 lessees who attended, the gathering proved to be a rousing success.

Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA), a local non-profit, and Hawaii Community Lending, a division of HCA, sponsored the seminar. The goal of Hawaiian Community Assets is "to increase the capacity of low- to moderate-income communities and individuals in Hawaii to achieve economic self-sufficiency, with a particular focus on Native Hawaiians."

Free Community Homebuyer Fairs Being Planned

Following on the heels of success from last year's community homebuyer fairs, another series of free community homebuyer fairs are being planned for this summer. The Community Homebuyer Fairs are designed to bring information to the community on how to prepare for and achieve homeownership. These homebuyer fairs are being done as a collaborative effort by a consortium of partners in the housing industry. Professionals from a variety of housing industry organizations will be on hand to share information on programs and services available in the community to help people become homeowners.

Lenders will be available to do mortgage pre-qualifications and provide free credit reports. Housing Counselors and Homebuyer Education Providers will be on hand to discuss specific concerns that people may have about their potential of becoming a homeowner. Realtors will share information on how to shop for a home. Representatives from other organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, USDA Rural Development, and HUD will also be available to share information on their homeownership programs and services.

All of the homebuyer fairs will be conducted on a Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, the tentative dates are June 8, 15, 22, 29 and July 13. Although actual locations still need to be confirmed, we will be bring the fairs to the following communities: Waianae, Kahuku, Kalihi, Waimanalo, and Maui. The fairs are free and open to anyone in the general public from any community. For more information, please call Claudine Allen at the HUD Hawaii State Office at 522-8175 x223.

Staff Corner

Aloha and welcome to M. Lee Jennings, a new Community Planning and Development Representative in the Hawaii State Office.

Congratulations to Mark Chandler on being selected as the new Director of the Community Planning and Development Division in Honolulu.

Two employees were recently recognized for their dedication to public service: Congratulations to Richard Knight, CPD Representative, for 20 years of service in the Federal Government. A big round of applause goes to Michael Flores, Community Builder, for 30 years of service in the Federal Government; especially since Mike has devoted all 30 years of his service to HUD.