Malama Honua Home Improvement Renovation Program Grant

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs administers the Community Grants Program to support initiatives that improve the conditions of Native Hawaiians in alignment with its Mana i Mauli Ola Strategic Plan. The FY27 Malama Honua Home Improvement Renovation Program Grant for Nonprofits is a pilot funding opportunity designed to partner with qualified Hawaii based nonprofit organizations. These organizations are tasked with implementing a targeted home repair program focused on health and safety for Native Hawaiian homeowners who are unable to access traditional financing due to income or credit limitations. The grant reflects OHA’s broader commitment to housing stability, economic resilience, and community wellbeing. The primary purpose of this grant is to enable nonprofit partners to deliver small scale but critical home repairs that directly address threats to habitability. These include structural issues, plumbing, electrical hazards, roofing deficiencies, and accessibility improvements. The program explicitly excludes cosmetic or elective renovations, ensuring that funds are used only for urgent repairs that improve safety and livability. Individual homeowner grants administered by nonprofit partners are expected to range from approximately ten thousand to twenty thousand dollars, allowing the program to serve multiple households while maintaining meaningful impact per home. Funding for this program totals five hundred thousand dollars for the fiscal year, with individual nonprofit awards capped at two hundred fifty thousand dollars. Administrative and indirect costs are limited to twenty percent of the total budget. A matching requirement of at least fifteen percent of the requested grant amount is mandatory, and applicants must demonstrate the availability of these funds at the time of application. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis with an initial payment followed by quarterly disbursements tied to performance and reporting compliance. Eligibility is restricted to nonprofit organizations operating in the State of Hawaii with appropriate tax exempt status and compliance certifications. These organizations must demonstrate the capacity to design and manage a full program lifecycle including outreach, application intake, eligibility screening, home inspections, contractor management, and financial oversight. The program is not open to individuals; instead, selected nonprofit partners will later facilitate applications from eligible Native Hawaiian homeowners who meet specific criteria such as income thresholds, residency, and property ownership requirements. The application process consists of a two phase submission. Applicants must first complete a Letter of Interest to establish eligibility, followed by a full application upon approval. The application requires detailed project proposals, organizational capacity documentation, experience records, and a comprehensive budget with justification. Evaluation is based on a structured scoring system that prioritizes project feasibility, alignment with strategic outcomes, organizational capability, and financial reasonableness. Key dates for the program include an opening date in early July, a Letter of Interest deadline in late July, and a final application deadline in mid August. Applications are reviewed over the subsequent months, with award notifications expected in the fall and contract execution by the end of the calendar year. Program activities are anticipated to begin at the start of the following year, with a one year performance period and the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding availability. Throughout the grant period, awardees must adhere to rigorous reporting and compliance requirements, including quarterly performance and financial reports, annual data submissions, and final outcome reporting. The program emphasizes measurable impacts such as improved home safety, increased independence for vulnerable populations, and enhanced physical and mental health outcomes. Through this structured approach, the Malama Honua grant aims to create sustainable improvements in housing conditions for Native Hawaiian communities while building nonprofit capacity to deliver critical services.

Ensure strong alignment with Mana i Mauli Ola strategies demonstrate clear program design and measurable outcomes prioritize health and safety repairs and provide detailed financial and reporting systems