This 630 Cooke St. lot in Kakaako will be home to a future affordable housing project.

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority will receive a $9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of its Capital Fund Program for Public Housing Agencies, the state’s congressional delegation said Friday.

“The lack of affordable housing is an issue that is reaching a critical point in Hawaii,” U.S. Rep. Mark Takai, D-Hawaii, said in a statement.

“This funding will help replace distressed units, support jobs in our community, and bring quality affordable housing within reach for many Hawaii families,” U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, added. “With this grant, the Hawaii Housing Authority will be able to improve housing units across our state.”

The HUD Capital Fund program supports more than 3,000 public housing authorities across the nation to build, repair, and modernize public housing projects.

Energy efficiency and large-scale improvement projects may be supported by the fund as well.

Lorin Eleni Gill Reporter – Pacific Business News