HANAPEPE — Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity was recently awarded $5.75 million as a portion of a $436-million gift from American author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
The unrestricted giving also included funding to Habitat for Humanity Maui, Habitat for Humanity International and 82 habitat affiliates, according to a Tuesday announcement.
The donation will be used to advance both Habitat for Humanity Maui and Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity’s strategic vision that aims to increase access to affordable housing, keep up the maintenance of existing housing and prepare those who strive to achieve homeownership through homeownership education.
“Our affiliates are well-equipped to be stewards of this transformational donation,” said Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Milani Pimental. “For Kaua‘i, this gift will accelerate our capacity-building in key areas such as land acquisition and development in order to provide much-needed building lots for the island.”
Sherri K. Dodson, Habitat for Humanity Maui executive director, said the $3.5 million donation for the Habitat for Humanity Maui will go towards ensuring sustainability and its ability to bring more homeownership opportunities to the community.
Habitat International will use its $25 million portion of the donation to prioritize advocacy and programmatic efforts designed to dismantle systemic racism in housing.
Specifically, the donation will allow habitat to advocate for policy proposals and legislation that enable millions of people to access affordable housing through its Cost of Home advocacy campaign; increase Black homeownership in the U.S. by targeting barriers through a new initiative that will launch this summer; and leverage innovative capital investments that service communities of color.
“Habitat works to break down barriers and bring people together — to tear down obstacles and build a world where everyone, no matter who we are or where we come from, has a decent place to live,” said Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford. “This incredible gift helps make that work possible.”
Since 1992, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity has built 223 affordable homes and made critical repairs to 37 existing homes for Kaua‘i families whose household income is between 30 to 80 percent of the median Kaua‘i income.
Currently, the affiliate is constructing the final group of homes in its 125-home ‘Ele‘ele Iluna Subdivision project and is starting home construction on its next development of 32 single-family homes at Waimea Huakai.
• Info: kauaihabitat.org
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
