Newsletter Winter 2002

Information by State  Print version

HUD Awards $14,542,753 to Hawaii in New Grants

Since the announcement of a $1.8 million grant to the University of Hawaii for the Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities (AN/NHIAC) program back in September 2002, 15 new grants have been awarded to Hawaii. In addition, Guam received $38,215 for its Family Self-Sufficiency program; $100,000 to promote economic self-sufficiency for its public housing residents; and $1.1 Million to provide homeless assistance. The grantees are listed below, followed by two feature articles highlighting in more detail the grant awards for the new Seniors Service Coordinator Program and two Fair Housing Programs.

Seniors to Receive Needed Help from HUD Grant

The Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii is the recipient of a HUD grant of $300,000 to help elderly residents of three housing developments to "age in place" by providing individualized case management and group programs. The funding is provided under HUD's Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Program - Resident Service Delivery Model.

About 550 senior citizens living at Makua Alii, Paoakalani and Kalakaua Homes will soon have help to enable them to live independently and to improve their quality of life. The HUD funds can be used for a variety of services including pr

LASH plans to promote fair housing through coordinated outreach efforts among housing agencies and organizations. LASH will build coalitions among faith-based and community organizations to enhance its capacity to serve renters and homebuyers who are most susceptible to discrimination in Hawaii, such as: persons with disabilities, families with children, non-English speaking and limited English speaking immigrants, Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, and African Americans. Activities will include distributing fair housing materials and conducting trainings, with a focus on public awareness, support, and enforcement services to low-income families. Majority of the outreach will occur on Oahu.

At the same time, the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (HCRC) was awarded a $104,983 Partnership Initiative grant under HUD's Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP). The grant will be used to conduct an extensive, statewide fair housing public education campaign and enhance its fair housing design and construction enforcement. HCRC will be working in partnership with HUD to develop public/private partnerships with state and local agencies and immigrant service providers to implement education and outreach activities targeting minority and immigrant communities, non-English speaking, and limited-English speaking groups and individuals.

Hawaii Develops Plan to Make the Community More Accessible for Individuals with Disabilities

The State of Hawaii has adopted a comprehensive statewide plan for enabling qualified persons with disabilities to access systems and services in a community setting eighteen months after President George W. Bush issued an Executive Order on Community Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities. The plan is the outcome of a stakeholders group comprised of individuals with disabilities, their family and representatives from advocacy groups, non-profit agencies, businesses, and government agencies who assist people with disabilities and co-chaired by the Directors of the Department of Human Services and Health and the Executive Director of the Hawaii Centers for Independent Living (HCIL).

Known as the Olmstead Plan, in reference to the 1999 U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Olmstead v L.C., 119 S. Ct. 2176, the Hawaii Plan addresses five key areas:

• Informing and educating people with disabilities, their caregivers and the public about community-based living opportunities and issues.
  
  
• Improving the assessment and planning process by which individuals with disabilities achieve the home of their choice.
  
  
• Strengthening financial resources and mechanisms necessary for individuals with disabilities to live in the community, by maximizing existing public and private resources, creating more flexibility in how these resources can be used, and increasing these resources overall.
  
  
• Building infrastructure necessary for individuals with disabilities to live in the community, in such key areas as housing, employment, transportation and human services.
  
  
• Effectively evaluating the state's progress in meeting the goals of its Olmstead plan.

For more information on the Olmstead Plan, contact Mark Obatake of HCIL at 522-5419.

Hawaii Homeless Policy Academy Plan Unveiled at Homeless Forum

The 7th Annual Statewide Homeless Forum held on November 22 was the venue for the unveiling of the strategic plan for improving the plight of the chronic homeless in Hawaii. The Hawaii Homeless Policy Academy is only one of eight academies selected in 2002 to be a model for demonstrating how improving coordination, forming collaborations between the public and private sectors, and opening access to mainstream government services will enable communities to end chronic homelessness in 10 years.

About 100 representatives from government agencies, faith-based organizations and nonprofit service providers took part in this day-long event at the State Capitol. The strategic plan focuses on planning and coordination, targeted services, and housing. A demonstration project is proposed to show how a collaborative effort and access to mainstream services can move the chronic homeless off of the streets into temporary shelters, and eventually into permanent housing. Hawaii has about 13,000 homeless individuals of which 7,000 are estimated to be on Oahu.

For more information on the strategic plan, contact Sandi Miyoshi of HCDCH at 832-5930.

ORI Breaks Ground in Wahiawa for Anuenue Hale

Adjacent to what most people call the Dole Pineapple stand north of Wahiawa is the quaint village called Helemano Plantation. Visitors to the pineapple stand often make a trip to Helemano Plantation part of that rest stop to or from the north shore, and are surprised to find a bakery, a craft store, and a restaurant. If all goes as planned, visitors in the future may find themselves enjoying the sites of a tranquil Asian Garden or wondering if they are still in Hawaii as they walk through a stately Victorian Garden. This is the vision of ORI Anuenue Hale.

Building on the success of the Helemano Plantation, and thanks to 40 acres of land provided by Castle and Cooke Properties, Susanna Cheung, President and CEO of ORI Anuenue Hale, and the ORI Board of Directors broke ground on November 12 to take the first step in a journey that will bring to this rural area of Oahu: an elder care health and wellness center, a learning center, a recreational facility for persons with disabilities, and diversified agriculture that will include themed landscapes depicting Victorian, Asian, Hawaiian and Tropical cultures. Anuenue Hale will not only provide much needed services to this part of the island, but will also provide jobs for residents of nearby communities. ORI, through its Helemano Plantation, has been providing homes and supportive services to persons with developmental disabilities for over 20 years.

For more information on Anuenue Hale, contact Ann Higa of ORI at 622-3929.

Got Mold?

Mold contamination has been in the news recently with high profile companies spending millions of dollars to remove mold and to replace furnishings. In this article, CPD staff Richard Knight provides some basic information on mold from his training workshop.

Although mold is common in the environment, in the wrong place and in extreme cases, mold can cause health problems. Mold can grow almost anywhere but prefers high relative humidity and warm temperatures. It is common to find mold on the shady side of buildings where there are a lot of plants to keep the relative humidity high. You will also find it in many kitchens and bathrooms for the same reason - high relative humidity.

Molds, fungus, and mildew can grow on almost any surface, and, if the material is porous, can grow into the material. This can happen to concrete surfaces, wood, and grout around ceramic tile. Its ability to grow into porous materials also makes it difficult to completely clean mold from such materials. If mold grows into a piece of furniture, and keeps growing back after repeated cleanings, then, the only way to control the mold may be to dispose of the furniture.

Mildew in a bathroom is another common example. It grows in the grout lines around tile and creates black spots. Ordinary household cleaners will kill the surface and remove the top layers. However, there may be surviving spores deep down in the grout that will eventually become active and begin growing new mildew. If the mold or mildew keeps growing back in the same spots, then it may be necessary to remove the old grout and re-grout the tile in order to remove the mildew.

For normal, healthy people, the presence of mold and mold spores in the environment does not present a problem. However, repeated exposure to high levels of mold, or exposure by someone whose immune system is under stress may result in becoming sensitized to mold and in mold allergies. Reactions to mold exposure are similar to other allergies, colds, and flu. Only professional testing can determine if you have a mold-related illness.

Some molds can produce toxins that can cause serious illness or even death. Colonies of toxic mold are not common. Toxic molds cannot be determined visually. Therefore, laboratory testing is required to identify toxic mold.

How can you eliminate or control mold?

Unless you are willing to invest in scientific "clean room" technologies, you will not eliminate mold from your home or office. For most of us, this level of cleanliness is not affordable, and is not necessary. Although mold spores are everywhere around us, they will take a few hours to "germinate" when the conditions are right. The easiest way to control mold is to control humidity. This means removing standing water and drying materials that become water soaked from spills or leaks. If the water is removed and the affected materials are dried within 24 to 48 hours, then, in most cases, you will not find mold growing.

What can you do around your home or apartment?

Ventilation is a key element in keeping humidity under control. For example, make sure the vent from your dryer is routed away from the house and bushes or other obstacles do not obstruct the airflow. Venting a dryer into a room can result in the humidity going into the walls and can encourage mold growth in wall cavities.

If mold is a problem in the bathroom area, increase ventilation by installing vent fans or placing other fans such that drier air is moved through the bathroom. Fix any leaks or dripping faucets immediately.

Mold can also grow on kitchen walls and ceilings if there is a lot of moisture put into the air during cooking. For example, this can occur when steaming foods or using a wok. Again, the solution is removing the moisture, reducing the humidity level by drying the material and increasing ventilation. In extreme cases, it may be necessary to change the style of cooking to reduce the amount of moisture released into the air.

If you can see mold, you can clean the area using normal household cleaners according to directions. Then, determine if there is recurring source of water - such as a leak or humidity from daily activities. Remove the source of the water, or if that is not possible, increase ventilation to dry the area faster. If you are renting, discuss the situation with your landlord or building manager. If you believe you are having health problems because of exposure to mold, see your health professional.

Welcome New HUD Staff

WILLIAM I. SABALBURO
Facilities Management Engineer
Office of Public Housing

William I. Sabalburo is the new Public Housing Revitalization Specialist (Facilities Management Specialist). Bill joined HUD in September 1990 in the Minnesota State Office. He has experience in conducting compliance reviews and providing technical assistance for housing authorities; and, Bill has worked with troubled housing authorities in the areas of contracting, procurement, and acquisition of Management Information Systems. Prior to joining HUD, Bill was an USAF Engineering Officer.

Mahalo to all our friends and partners for your support in 2002. We thank you and wish you happiness and prosperity in the New Year.