A Hawaii-based lending nonprofit is one of seven local organizations partnering to disburse millions in Hawaii County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds for rental and utility assistance to thousands of households struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our organization is the lead agency and we are supporting six nonprofits to process and payout grant funds," Hawaii Community Lending Executive Director Jeff Gilbreath told Big Island Times. "This means, unlike other ERAPs in other counties, we have six back offices cutting checks and wiring funds versus just one."
The unique approach eliminates the potential of a bottleneck and shortens the "time it takes to get dollars out the door," Gilbreath said.
Jeff Gilbreath
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"In addition, the nonprofits are offering assistance in eight different languages other than English," Gilbreath continued. "This helps ensure equity in community members being able to access the funds. Finally, we have taken an approach where those who are denied for whatever reason are referred to other options for financial assistance, including affordable loans from HCL and Hawaii First Federal Credit Union and mortgage assistance from Hope Services."
Hawaiian Community Lending, which operates through Hawaiian Community Assets, is a nonprofit community development financial institution that increases access to credit and capital for the economic self-sufficiency of underserved Hawaiian residents.
"The goal of the Hawaii County Emergency Rental Assistance Program is to disburse $21.5 million in rent and utility grants for Hawaii Island renters who have lost income due to COVID," Gilbreath said. "We estimate that 3,400 households will be served through December 2021. By disbursing the grants, we will be helping to stabilize Hawaii Island’s housing market which is the underpinning of the island’s economy."
Under the program, once an applicant is approved for assistance, payments will be made directly to the household's landlord, property manager or utility company.
The federally funded ERAP is administered by the County of Hawaii and nonprofit partners HOPE Services Hawaii, Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island, Hawaii First Federal Credit Union, Neighborhood Place of Puna, Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island, The Salvation Army and Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council.
ERAP will provide rent or utility payment assistance through the end of this year to applicants directly impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
ERAP expects to provide funds to households with qualifying incomes and those who can prove pandemic-driven hardship due to COVID19. Funding is limited to households that primarily reside on Hawaii Island.
ERAP applicants must provide certain documents and meet qualifications.
The on-island nonprofits participating in the ERAP program have established track records and experience in managing and disbursing emergency assistance funds.
"They are deeply connected to the communities they are in and have vast networks to assist in helping households in hard-to-reach communities," Gilbreath said. "They have diverse speakers fluent in a variety of languages."