Want a House?  CNHA Handing Out $15,000 to 400 Families

News Release from Ti Leaf Group August 9, 2012

Through financial support from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, CNHA and partners deliver free homeownership and debt reduction services to assist Hawaii families throughout the state.

Honolulu, Hawaii – The Hawaii Family Finance Project (HFFP) and its partners, Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) and Hawaii Home Ownership Center (HHOC) graduated over 400 families from Financial Education courses offered throughout the state.  Each graduate received a certificate of completion to access other services through HFFP, including up to $15,000 in savings match grants for down payments on home purchases administered by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA).

“Whether you know which home you want to purchase or you are at the beginning of your home buying journey, accessing services through HFFP will assist you with your needs,” remarks Geri Mendiola, Community Development Specialist.  “Our program has provided over 30 financial education classes assisting over 400 clients to date.”

One participant commented:  “This course was a very enlightening - there were many things I never knew and I never understood-There were things I "thought" I knew but learned a great deal that the steps are more clear to me now. . . Many thanks for a great course!”

Enrolling in the HFFP and attending a workshop is key, “The workshop was exactly what I was looking for.  Now I know the steps to homeownership.  It will take some time to build credit & savings but I'm ready!” declared a HCA Maui workshop graduate.

Another graduate stated, “Everything was extremely useful to me-I am only just thinking about buying a home at this point with my husband and this served to be a great first step in knowing how to prepare for and buy a home…  I would highly recommend this class to anyone thinking about buying a home.”

Through financial support from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, CNHA and partners deliver free homeownership and debt reduction services to assist Hawaii families throughout the state. Services include, but are not limited to, financial education through group training, one-on-one Counseling; opening an Individual Development Account (IDA) for down payment on a home or debt reduction; and tax preparation through one of CNHA’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites.

The Hawaii Family Finance Project is an initiative developed by CNHA to serve Hawaii families, Native and non-Native, in all counties of the state of Hawaii.

For more information on the Hawaii Family Finance Project or the Hawaii Individual Development Account Program, please contact Ms. Geri Mendiola, HIDA Program Specialist at 808.596.8155 or via email at info@hawaiiancouncil.org.

CNHA is a national network of Native Hawaiian Organizations, providing assistance in housing counseling and financial education, and is a policy voice on issues important to Native Hawaiian communities. Its mission is to enhance the well-being of Hawaii through the cultural, economic, and community development of Native Hawaiians.  For more information about CNHA please contact us at 808.596.8155, toll-free at 1.800.709.2642, by e-mail at info@hawaiiancouncil.org, or visit our website at www.hawaiiancouncil.org.