Rent-to-own promise delayed years for Ewa tenants
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Residents of a city-connected rent-to-own housing program in Ewa say they were promised the chance to buy their homes, but have never been given the opportunity to do so.
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Walter Saragosa and Wendy Broxson live a few doors apart on Orrick Street in Tenney Village as tenants of the nonprofit Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation.
Both said they moved in after seeing an offer — still posted on the organization’s website — promising qualified moderate- and low-income workers the chance to rent and eventually own a renovated plantation house.
Residents say they met program requirements
Saragosa said documentation he provided to HNN Investigates shows in writing that a rent-to-own program existed. He and Broxson said residents were told to maintain their properties, follow association rules, and they would eventually be able to purchase their homes.
Projected sale prices were in the range of $140,000 to $145,000.
Saragosa said they completed a homeownership certificate course as part of the process.
“I got my completion of certificate for the home ownership,” Saragosa said. “We went to class.”
Broxson said she and Saragosa applied for the program in 2000. Saragosa got his rental unit in 2009 and Broxson in 2017. Both said the wait for the chance to buy caused them to miss other opportunities to become homeowners.
“Now the kids have moved out,” Broxson said. “I don’t have anyone on my lease with me, so if I croak, all my hard work was for nothing.”
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City response called ‘BS’ by resident
Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation did not respond to requests for comment. The city did respond, and residents described the reply as both shocking and hopeful.
According to the city, 47 properties were set aside as affordable rentals with a rent-to-buy option during the Ewa Village Revitalization Project, but no participants qualified.
“This statement is BS,” Saragosa said.
Saragosa and Broxson said they believed they were qualified. A review of city property records shows Pacific Housing still owns more than a dozen homes on their block alone.
City and nonprofit reviewing records
The city’s statement said Pacific Housing Assistance and the city are now reviewing records and discussing the potential to revive a rent-to-own program.
“They don’t know,” Saragosa said of the city’s response. “So we’re thankful you’re giving us this time to maybe shed some light on this program.”
The city Department of Community Services said it appreciates the patience of the residents but must review all paperwork before it can provide a meaningful answer about the program’s future.
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