Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.
By CHELSEA JENSEN
Stephens Media
Five homes will be built in just 240 hours this fall by Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii and other volunteers in an effort to increase affordable housing in Kona.
Habitat, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in West Hawaii, will partner with national volunteer group Blitz Home Builders for an accelerated build-event, said Patrick Hurney, Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii executive director. The 2012 Blitz Build in Kona will construct the homes between Sept. 12 and 22 at the Villages at Lai Opua.
“The need for affordable housing is enormous in our community. We basically have very little affordable housing and hardly any affordable home ownership opportunities,” Hurney said. “We are really trying to increase our production and family services to bring (more) affordable housing here.”
The project would be impossible without Blitz, a national nonprofit that comes together annually to conduct blitz builds, said organization Planning Committee member James Tomascak. Between 65 and 85 volunteers, primarily from the U.S., will travel here at their own expense for the build. The organization has never operated in Hawaii.
Glen Forthun, another Planning Committee member who often travels to Kona, said the area was selected based on need, organization size, projects already completed, future plans for expansion and whether the area has had a prior blitz build.
During the past 15 years, Blitz has helped construct more than 40 homes around the U.S., Tomascak said.
Since 2002, Hurney said the local Habitat affiliate has raised a dozen West Hawaii homes, each of which normally takes four to six months to build.
“The need for affordable homes is everywhere — including in Hawaii,” said Tomascak. “Even though many people think it is a vacation area with a lot of nice resorts and hotels, the people who work in those resorts and hotels don’t necessarily live that way, and (they) need affordable housing.”
All funding, equipment and materials needed for the five homes, at an estimated $85,000 each, are covered by Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii, Hurney said. The organization relies upon volunteers, community donations, corporate sponsors, grants, ReStore sales and accrued money from mortgages underwritten by Habitat for Humanity International.
Owning a Habitat-built home requires a recipient family to contribute 500 hours or more of “sweat equity” to build their own house or help other families construct homes, Hurney said. Recipients also agree to a 20-year, no-interest mortgage underwritten by Habitat for Humanity International.
“This is not a charity (program). This is about parity,” Hurney said, and noted the mortgages help fund future projects. “These families are working alongside volunteers and they have to pay (the mortgage) back. There is nothing given to them, which makes it an equal exchange.”
To get involved in the 2012 Blitz Build in Kona, or to donate, visit habitatwesthawaii.org or call 331-8010. An application is required. Corporate sponsors can contact Muramoto by cell at 896-0274.
Those interested in the Blitz Home Builders program may visit blitzhomebuilders.org or email info@blitzhomebuilders.org.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.