Then, the initial construction bid proved to be undervalued by more than 40 percent because of land use concerns from the city Department of Planning and Permitting, she said.

"After all that was said and done, we went into a long process of looking at everything we could to reduce costs," said Walenta. "Finally, I took out the community center."

Walenta was upbeat about the project getting under way at long last, but said she's still looking for the $1.2 million necessary to build the community center.

"I'm still looking for more money," she said. "The community center is important because that's where we provide all the services."

The start of the project comes as the Wai'anae Coast's homeless population keeps growing.

Ohana Ola o Kahumana was co-founded by Dr. Frances Sydow, who died in 1994. Her vision was to supply affordable living quarters for homeless families during the time it took to educate them and move them back into the mainstream of society.

Using grants from the federal government, the Weinberg Foundation and other sources, the nonprofit facility opened its doors in 1991 with 14 homes in seven duplex buildings on 12› acres. Homeless families were allowed to live in the homes for up to two years. The aim was to show family members how to begin to provide for themselves.

"The original concept was to help strengthen families and to assist people to become self-sufficient so they can obtain and retain permanent housing," said Helen Kimball, executive director at Ohana Ola.

"We provide a variety of programs that address the basic life skills, educational and vocational training, support groups, parenting and budgeting — that kind of thing. We also have full-time case management services, and we do a lot of work with other agencies."

If all goes as planned, the additional 17 duplex buildings will be completed in late 2005, said Kimball.

"The whole point is to help these families so that they don't recycle back into homelessness or substance abuse," she said. "We've served 190 families since 1991."

The completion of additional homes will further benefit the community, she said.

"We are looking forward with great anticipation to finally putting the shovel in the ground," said Kimball.