Wednesday, Jul 18 2012 3:50PM

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $12.7 million in funding will go toward creating affordable housing for low-income native Hawaiian families.

The Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands have built, bought and made more than 460 housing units since 2002. Other projects funded by the program and department also provide do-it-yourself home maintenance, repair training and housing counseling services for more than 800 native Hawaiian families with low incomes.

"As our housing markets continue to recover, this grant will make a difference in the lives of hundreds of families struggling to find decent and affordable housing to live," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "HUD continues its support for reauthorization of the NHHBG program to ensure that affordable housing opportunities will continue to be provided to Native Hawaiian families into the future."

The agency reports the grants will be used to increase the affordable housing inventory on Hawaiian home lands through infrastructure development and house construction, including sweat equity projects. The grants will also help increase community access to resources that will address public safety needs and activities, including community policing, safety enhancements, and educational and cultural activities.

For further information, check out this source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development