PAL Hawai‘i granted $75K from to Nareit Foundation for improvements at Kauhale O Kekaha

PAL (Permanently Affordable Living) Hawai‘i, a nonprofit based on Kaua‘i, was awarded a $75,000 grant Wednesday from the Nareit Foundation that will improve the quality of life for residents of the Kauhale O Kekaha affordable living community in Kekaha.

The nonprofit will use the funds to replace an aging 53-year-old roof and install rooftop solar panels that will help lower utility costs for the 13-unit apartment complex’s residents and reduce the impact of the building’s energy usage on Kaua‘i’s environment.

Kauhale O Kekaha is owned and operated by PAL Hawai‘i, which is providing permanent affordable rental housing for formerly houseless residents along with case management, needs assessment and referrals for social services, education and other programs, all with the goal of having the residents be self-sufficient and work toward a better life.

“We acquired this property two years ago and have been steadily working to rehabilitate the structure inside and out to give the residents a greater sense of confidence and purpose in their daily lives and to be proud, contributing members of Kaua‘i,” said PAL Hawai‘i Executive Director Larry Graff. “This Nareit Foundation grant is helping us fulfill an important objective to ensure the kauhale’s residents have a strong and stable roof over their heads for many years to come.”

Nareit Hawai’i Executive Director Gladys Quinto Marrone said the foundation’s focus is to support nonprofits dedicated to providing Hawai‘i residents with affordable housing and PAL Hawai‘i epitomizes how this is being accomplished.

“The strength of every community statewide begins with the satisfaction of families and individuals having a place to call home and being able to rise up and meet the challenges and opportunities that life presents us,” said Marrone.

PAL Hawai‘i provides services statewide. It is working to change the paradigm from affordable housing to affordable living and to prevent the displacement of Native Hawaiians and multi-generational families.

Its mission is to establish a foundation of hope by providing affordable homes and services for the people of Hawai‘i.

The organization serves houseless and extremely low- to middle-income workforce households by offering permanently affordable living pathways through rental housing, fee simple homeownership and leasehold homeownership through its Ho‘omaluhia Community Land Trust.

For more information about the support of nonprofit affordable housing projects and other charitable causes by the Nareit Foundation and Nareit Hawai‘i, click here.