The County of Hawai‘i Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) announces the launch of the Home Improvement Loan Program (HILP) — a new initiative designed to help local homeowners make essential repairs and upgrades to their homes.
HILP provides low-interest loans ranging from $2,500 to $50,000 at a 3% simple interest rate to eligible low- and moderate-income homeowners. The program is intended to help families repair, improve, or modernize the homes they personally occupy as their primary residence.
“The Home Improvement Loan Program provides assistance to qualifying homeowners who need to make essential repairs,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda. “By extending the life of existing homes, we are supporting housing stability for families and our kūpuna.”
Homeowners who are 62 years or older, or who have a disability, may be eligible to have 50% of the loan’s principal balance forgiven at the end of the 15-year loan period.
“This program is about taking care of existing housing on our island,” said Kehaulani Costa, County Housing Administrator. “The cost of maintaining, repairing and making necessary improvements for our aging ʻohana can be overwhelming for many local families. HILP provides support for these types of home improvements so we can keep our homes safe and livable for the long run.”
Eligible repairs include:
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Repairing termite or wood rot damage.
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Fixing a leaky roof or drainpipes.
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Lead-based paint abatement.
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Upgrading faulty electrical wiring or plumbing.
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Connecting to County sewer systems.
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Termite treatment.
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Installing solar water heating systems.
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Modifications to accommodate household members with disabilities.
Applications and the program’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) can be downloaded at https://www.housing.hawaiicounty.gov/community-resources/hilp.
For more information or questions, residents are encouraged to contact OHCD by emailing ohcdloans@hawaiicounty.gov.
The HILP is funded by the County of Hawai‘i through the Affordable Housing Production Program. The County is committed to expanding the program with State, Federal and philanthropic support.
