OHA awards $40K grant to group helping homeless

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is awarding a nonprofit organization a $40,000 grant to help Native Hawaiian families with children move into housing.

OHA is giving the money to Family Promise of Hawaii.

Family Promise of Hawaii Executive Director Mary Saunders said in a statement Thursday the money will help about 60 Native Hawaiians in the program each year move into housing.

Family Promise engages a network of congregations across Oahu to rotate as hosts for homeless families. The nonprofit says more than 80 percent of participants usually transition to housing in three to four months.

There are 182 Family Promise affiliates in 41 states. The Hawaii affiliate is one of the fastest growing.