Habitat for Humanity has the materials and the volunteers to build more homes in urban Ho-nolulu for needy families; all they lack is families with land.

The international nonprofit is struggling to find applicants in urban areas primarily because low-income residents who would qualify don't own their homes or any land — a requirement for the program.

Habitat for Humanity has only one home under construction so far this year in urban Honolulu, while three others are under way on the Leeward Coast and four have been approved for reconstruction in Waimanalo. The last Habitat home completed in urban Honolulu was two years ago.

Habitat officials say they want to help urban Honolulu families, given the shortage of affordable units for low-income families and the growing population of homeless people. But while hundreds of families live in substandard housing in urban Honolulu, not all of those families own homes or have access to land.

Habitat requires families to own their land partly so the nonprofit can keep its costs down.

Families could get property through land donations, but Habitat has had no luck in persuading philanthropists or foundations to fork over vacant properties for low-income families.

MAINLAND MODEL

Drew Astolfi, a housing advocate and lead organizer for Faith Action for Community Equity, said part of the problem is the Habitat model that works on the Mainland doesn't translate to most parts of the Island, where even those who earn moderate incomes can't afford their own land, especially in urban areas.

"To make the Habitat program work in Honolulu, what we need is socially responsible entities to start donating parcels of land," he said. "In the absence of that, I don't think it's going to work in the city."

Habitat officials point out the organization has always had a harder time getting applicants in town.

Over the past decade, the organization has built 44 homes on O'ahu, nine of which were in urban Honolulu.

The rest were in more rural areas in Leeward and Windward O'ahu and on the North Shore.

Still, Habitat officials say they have never before had the capacity to help more Honolulu homeowners, and so are continuing to increase awareness in communities and seek out help from agencies for land donations.

The nonprofit is working to reverse a downward trend in applicants and homebuilding statewide over the past decade.

The only notable exception was in 2005, when Habitat partnered with a development corporation in Kapolei to build seven homes.

Habitat for Humanity leaders say they could build up to 10 homes annually.

Their capacity is only expected to grow in coming years.

But despite regular community meetings, advertising and word-of-mouth pleas, they are not able to find enough applicants to even meet half their goal. "Families in this income bracket aren't able to afford land ... and Habitat itself is not able to purchase land," said Anne Marie Beck, Habitat-Honolulu executive director.

"I don't know what the magic thing is to do. The best we know how to do is keep showing up."

FAMILY QUALIFICATIONS

Beck said in addition to finding families, persuading them to commit to the Habitat program is not easy.

Not only do they need to be low-income earners — making less than $37,000 for a family of four — and own land, they also have to pledge "sweat equity" volunteer hours and be able to afford a mortgage.

The mortgage covers the cost of materials for the home, which usually run about $85,000.

There also is a reluctance on the part of some families to tear down a home they have lived in for years.

"Even though the families know this is not a house they should be living in," Beck said, "it sometimes takes some time to realize they need to demolish the house their father built or that their kids grew up in."

The biggest hope for the organization is on the Leeward Coast, where low-income families are more likely to own their homes and there are more Hawaiian Homestead lands. Kehau Hanohano, a board member with the Leeward Habitat affiliate, said construction will start next year on 13 homes on the Leeward Coast.

Debbie Silva, 49, and her family were recently approved for the Habitat program, and reconstruction on their home will start late this year. Six adults and five children live in her three-bedroom home in Waimanalo, which is nearly falling apart — with large holes in the ceiling, caving floors and a stairway threatening to collapse.

The family has lived in the home for seven years. Silva's mother purchased it for $80,000.

"The termites just ate it all away," Silva said. "Everything is falling apart."

The living room in the home is uninhabitable because the floorboards are so brittle they are unsafe to walk on. In Silva's room, there is a large hole in the floor, where she can see the dirt underneath her house. The house itself is leaning, too, held up with two-by-fours strapped to the home's termite-eaten wooden foundations. It is only with prayer, Silva says, that the house remains standing.

"It is just horrible," she said.

Silva said she tried for years to get a home loan, but was rejected by several banks. She had nearly given up when she went to Habitat.

"People are afraid to step up and ask for help," Silva said. "They should at least try."

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.