Construction will start on 15 new homes in ‘Ele‘ele, on 24 acres of land donated to leaders of Habitat for Humanity, as soon as final subdivision approval is given by county officials, said Annette Creamer, executive director of Habitat for
Construction will start on 15 new homes in ‘Ele‘ele, on 24 acres of land donated to leaders of Habitat for Humanity, as soon as final subdivision approval is given by county officials, said Annette Creamer, executive director of Habitat for Humanity-Kauai.
Fund-raising efforts continue, because even with a federal grant of $195,000, money from entrepreneur Steve Case and other funds, there isn’t enough money yet for even the infrastructure for the new subdivision, she said.
Receipt of the federal grant was announced by First Hawaiian Bank and state Habitat for Humanity officials Monday. The Kaua‘i portion of the funds equates to $13,000 per home for 15 houses at ‘Ele‘ele. Infrastructure needed includes roads, sewer lines, water lines, electric lines and other necessities, she said.
“We were very pleased to be receiving this money for some of the infrastructure,” and fund-raising continues “because that’s not enough to cover pre-development and construction costs. But it’s a start,” Creamer said.
She hopes leaders of Kaua‘i churches and community groups will “help us build the homes in ‘Ele‘ele.”
Now, Habitat for Humanity-Kauai leaders are going over hundreds of applications to see which lucky Kauaians will qualify because of their incomes, housing needs and “desire to partner with us,” she explained of Habitat for Humanity-Kauai’s three criteria for selection of home-builders to become home-owners.
A family of four with income of between 50 percent ($32,300) and 80 percent ($51,700) of Kaua‘i median income for a family of that size qualifies for consideration, she said.
In addition to cash donations, Creamer welcomes volunteer labor. “We have groups of volunteers coming from the Mainland,” including 15 students from the University of California-Berkeley here now, and 15 more from Johns Hopkins University coming next week, who are or will be working to clear the land of bushes, debris, junk cars and other materials, she said.
Even before the first shovel of dirt is turned for construction of the ‘Ele‘ele subdivision, Creamer is thinking of ways to build more homes on the Eastside or North Shore.
“We would love to see a partnership with a large landowner” or someone else to partner with in the Lihu‘e, Kapa‘a, or North Shore areas, to build homes for people who need them and work in those areas, she said.
“Definitely, we could use more land.”
The waiting list for Habitat for Humanity-Kauai homes is 500 strong.
The federal Affordable Housing Program grant announced this week is from the Federal Home Loan Bank in Seattle, to Hawaii Habitat for Humanity, to construct 30 affordable homes for first-time home-buyers, on Kaua‘i, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island. On the other islands, homes will be built for Native Hawaiians on state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands properties.
Leaders at First Hawaiian Bank are involved because they are the Hawai‘i entity designated to administer the federal funds, Creamer explained.
Paul C. Curtis, associate editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
