The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced that it will provide $12.7 million in funding to produce affordable housing for low-income native Hawaiian families as part of the department's Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant.

According to its annual housing plan, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will use the funds to increase the affordable housing inventory on Hawaiian home lands through infrastructure development (mass grading, drainage, streets, utilities, etc.) and house construction including "sweat equity" projects. The funds will also be used to reduce the purchase price of housing by providing direct assistance to eligible families through down payment assistance, principal reduction subsidies, low/no interest rate loans and matching funds for Individual Development Accounts.

"The Native Hawaiian people and their culture are the foundation for the way of life we enjoy in Hawaii," says Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. "Unfortunately, like so many in this country, there are those in the Native Hawaiian community who have difficulty accessing affordable housing and taking the steps necessary to realize homeownership. I would like to thank [HUD Secretary Shaun] Donovan and the administration for helping the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands fulfill their critical mission of providing shelter for Native Hawaiian families.”