Page 4 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - Dec 15, 2021

4 HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK DECEMBER 15, 2021
The Biggest Investment Is A Home
By Jeff Gilbreath, interim executive director of Hawaiian Community Assets
Twenty years ago, Hawaiian Com- munity Assets was founded by working, low-income Native Ha- waiians who did not have a down payment or credit score to qualify for a mortgage. Being unable to afford a home — or living expenses in general — is a story many of our local people know too well.
ate action plans to reach financial goals. We helped Sarah, a single mother of six, build a household budget and enroll in a credit builder loan to start her family on a journey from houseless to homeownership
Since 2000, HCA has built the capacity of low- and moderate-income local res- idents to achieve and sustain economic self-sufficiency by helping our people move from houseless on the beach to the biggest investment in their life – a home.
lava eruptions, Timothy and Mary com- pleted a homebuyer workshop and qual- ified for a down payment assistance loan with us so they could become homeown- ers, build assets and rebuild their lives.
Hawaiian Community Assets offers hope and assistance for families in need of housing.
PHOTOS COURTESY HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY ASSETS
enrolls in a Financial Opportunity Center. As we work to make economic oppor- tunities available, we ask for you to join us: invest in our local people by going to hawaiiancommunity.net and donate today. While there, find a Financial Oppor- tunity Center near you, enroll and let us walk with you on your path to economic
self-sufficiency.
More than 2,000 Hawai‘i residents walk through the doors of our Financial Opportunity Centers every year looking for financial counseling, career coaching and income supports, such as public ben- efits, grants and loans. Our team members welcome them as family and help build household budgets, review credit and cre-
When Michelle came to us out of in- carceration without a job, we found her employment that would later pay for a col- lege degree and a wage to afford her rental.
in 36 months.
After losing their rental to the Kīlauea
We know the greatest challenges our local people face are financial emergen- cies and economic opportunities that are always “just out of reach.” We fund our services with grants, contract, and do- nations so they are free for anyone who
Walk-In Medical Care Immediate non-emergency care for illnesses, minor wounds, or
injuries from work, sports, home and auto. Physical Exams. X-Rays. Most Insurances accepted, including Kaiser.
We never closed. We are still here to take care of you.
Hilo and Kea‘au
Xrays on-site
M-F 8:30 – 6:30 Sat-Sun 8:30 -4:30
Hilo
969-3051
Keaau
966 -7942
OPEN 7 days a week