Homeowners Assistance Funds applications being accepted

Sustainable Development Goals and the Maui Homeowner Assistance Fund Program

Introduction

The Maui Homeowner Assistance Fund (MHAF) Program was launched on Monday, May 6, 2024, to provide financial assistance to Maui County homeowners who have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program aims to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and provides support for mortgage payments and other qualified housing expenses. Additionally, homeowners displaced by the Maui Wildfires are also eligible for assistance.

Program Administration

The County of Maui has selected Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi (CCH) to administer the MHAF program. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of The Treasury and is intended to assist eligible homeowners with mortgage and/or other qualified housing expense assistance. CCH will ensure that the program is accessible to all eligible homeowners, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religious affiliation.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for assistance, homeowners must meet the following criteria:

• Have incomes at or below 150 percent of the area median income
• Have experienced a COVID-19 related financial hardship after January 21, 2020, which is a 10 percent reduction in household income or 10 percent increase in household expenses related only to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Meet other eligibility requirements

Funding and Assistance

The initial funding for the MHAF program is $7 million, which is expected to assist between 117 and 280 homeowners. Eligible homeowners may receive up to $60,000 in financial assistance, primarily for mortgage loans but can also be provided for other qualified housing expenses.

Quotes from Officials

Mayor Richard Bissen expressed his commitment to providing aid to homeowners in need of financial assistance. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the community and emphasized the importance of supporting homeowners during the recovery process.

Rob Van Tassell, CEO and President of Catholic Charities Hawai’i, expressed gratitude for the partnership with the County of Maui. He acknowledged that many individuals are still struggling from the long-term financial impacts caused by the pandemic, which may have been further exacerbated by the recent wildfires.

Application Process

Maui County homeowners can visit CCH’s website for more information and to apply for assistance. A prescreen questionnaire is available on the webpage to determine eligibility. If eligible, homeowners will receive a link to complete a full application. The application process may take up to three to four months, and applications will be accepted once per household.

The program will temporarily pause application intake after receiving the first 100 completed applications to ensure timely processing and payments to financial lenders. Application intake will resume after processing the first 100 applications. Updates regarding application intake statuses will be provided.

Financial Assistance Details

Financial assistance will be prioritized for arrears and future mortgage payments, up to 12 months or until the maximum assistance amount is reached. Assistance for other qualified housing expenses is limited to a maximum of three months or until the maximum assistance amount is reached.

Eligible homeowners can receive financial assistance for other qualified housing expenses, even if they do not have an eligible mortgage. These expenses include Homeowner Association (HOA) fees, Planned Unit Development (PUD) Community Association Fees, Leasehold Fees, Property Taxes, Utilities (water, sewer, trash, gas, electric), and Homeowners Insurance. Additional services such as HUD Certified Housing Counseling or Legal Services may also be offered.

CCH will work with the respective mortgage or financial lender of program applicants to determine eligibility for funding. Approved assistance amounts will be paid directly to the mortgage servicer or other qualified housing expense provider. Assistance will not be provided on a reimbursement basis.

Contact Information

For any questions or inquiries, homeowners can contact CCH via email at mauihafhelp@catholiccharitieshawaii.org or by phone at (808) 873-4673, option 1 then option 3. Assistance is available between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, including weekends.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social, and environmental shocks and disasters.
• SDG 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
• SDG 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 1.5: Number of people affected by climate-related extreme events and other economic, social, and environmental shocks and disasters.
• Indicator for SDG 8.3: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex.
• Indicator for SDG 11.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.

Fuente: lahainanews.com

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