Honolulu Board of REALTORS® Awards $35,000 to Nonprofits Helping with Housing and Building Strong Communities
HONOLULU – The Honolulu Board of REALTORS® awarded $35,000 to nine nonprofit organizations. The grants, which are made through its REALTOR® Housing and Community Fund, primarily support programs and initiatives that help build community and provide homes to local residents.
“Our members are passionate about creating thriving communities, addressing housing needs and being good neighbors — that’s who we are,” said Tricia Nekota, President, Honolulu Board of REALTORS®. “As REALTORS®, we see the transformational power of homeownership every day, and we are proud to support the work of nine tremendous nonprofit organizations in their work to create strong communities through housing.”
Established in 1993, the REALTOR® Housing and Community Fund is financed by contributions from individual REALTORS® for annual grant-giving and is administered by the Hawaii Community Foundation. To date, the Honolulu Board of REALTORS® has donated more than $292,500 in grants to community organizations.
The following organizations received a grant from the Honolulu Board of REALTORS®:
Domestic Violence Action Center ($7,000) to aid in its commitment to ending domestic violence by assisting houseless survivors and their children to secure safe housing, emergency rent and utilities payments.
Villages of Māʻili ($7,000), a low-barrier housing program for the homeless population on the Leeward Coast. The 80-unit facility, run by Catholic Charities Hawaii, also provides housing participants with programs to find permanent housing and assist with budgeting, financial literacy, enhancing employment, teaching landlord tenancy skills, counseling services, health and wellness services.
Catholic Charities Hawaii ($6,000) provides a wide range of services including an Intake, Information, and Referral (IIR) Unit, which provides centralized information service, emergency assistance funds for rent and utility payments, and administers the Statewide Homeless Emergency Grants (SHEG) program and Punawai programs.
Hawaiian Community Assets ($6,000), a HUD-approved housing counseling agency and community lending institution that builds the capacity of low- and moderate-income communities to achieve housing and sustain economic self-sufficiency with a particular focus on Native Hawaiians.
Habitat for Humanity Leeward Oahu ($3,000) to put toward its efforts in eliminating substandard housing and homelessness on the Leeward Coast of Oahu.
Hawaii HomeOwnership Center ($2,000) provides counseling, education and support to create successful first-time homeowners.
Hawaii Meals on Wheels ($2,000) delivers fresh hot meals to the elderly and disabled; staff and volunteers also do informal wellness/safety checks. This service allows clients to preserve their independence and age at home where they are most familiar and most comfortable.
Honolulu Habitat for Humanity ($1,000) to support its mission of bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope for low-income families.
Hawaii Nature Center ($1,000) connects children and families to nature by fostering awareness, appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of Hawaii's environment by educating children with an interactive curriculum and immersive approach.
Grants are awarded yearly. Nonprofit organizations can apply for a grant through July 31, 2020. For more information or to apply for a grant, please contact hbradmin@hicentral.com.
Click here for a video news release and photos from the event.
About the Honolulu Board of REALTORS®
Established in 1922, the Honolulu Board of REALTORS® is one of the largest of 1,200 boards of REALTORS® in the nation, and, with more than 6,500 members, is one of the largest trade organizations on Oahu. Membership is available to licensed real estate brokers, agents, property managers, appraisers, counselors and others engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry who pledge to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. For more information, call (808) 732-3000 or visit www.hicentral.com.
Megan Tsuchida