Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 9, 1 September 1996 — Building communities with OHA's self-help housing [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Building communities with OHA's self-help housing

by Kelli Meskin Self-help housing is an important part of OHA's housing division's efforts to get Hawaiians on the land and in their own homes. The program makes it easier for families to afford a home because they have to contribute labor toward its construc-

tion. The work takes plaee under the direction of construction supervisors, and families that qualify for mortgages - whieh range from $40,000 to $50,000 - work with other families when building their homes. Homes are built in the same area and share the same infrastructure. The OHA housing division will be offer-

ing self-help housing information workshops to beneficiaries on O'ahu, Moloka'i and the Big Island. The workshops will provide an overview of the self-help housing method and financing alternatives. "This is our second attempt to encourage Hawaiians on Moloka'i, the Big Island and O'ahu to participate in self-help housing," said Patti Tancayo, OHA's housing specialist. "This method is proven to be an effective way to provide affordable housing." Applicants will be reviewed for mortgage pre-qualification and will get a credit eheek. Tancayo says this is because some families have found out after they went through the pre-qualification process that they were able to afford a contractor-built home. A small fee will be charged for the credit eheek. If an applicant does not qualify, a finaneial counselor will assist them and their family by suggesting a course of action that will enable them to be eligible for future self-help projects. "We encourage anyone interested in selfhelp to fill out an application to find out if they qualify," Tancayo says. "You don't khow where you stand until we assess your debt, ineome and take a look at your credit history." Families who participate in self-help housing contribute approximately 40 hours

eaeh week in the building of their homes. Eaeh house is built by a group of 8-12 families. You must own or lease the property where you plan to build your house and housing lots must be in a community zone. Lots should be close enough to eaeh other for group construction methods and must be on publicly maintained roads and have utilities adjacent or available to the tyTancayo says, "Beneficiaries should encourage others in their community who have nearby lots and who are interested in self-help housing to fill out an applieation." She adds, "We need 8-12 families to make one project work."

Building self-help housing on Kaua'i: an OHA housing blitz helped ten families build homes on the Garden lsle.

Self-help housing ean make owning a home more affordable.