Waianae, Hawaii -- It's a two-bedroom rental apartment, but for Emma Clark and her children, it's home. Clark is just one of 215 families who will be moving into Hale Wai Vista, the latest low-income rental housing in Leeward Oahu.

Thursday's blessing ceremony marks the first phase of the project.

Along with the blessing, a groundbreaking was held for the second phase, which will make another 132 units available for tenants with incomes at or below $40,000.

"This is not a handout, this is a helping hand," said Gov. Linda Lingle.

A recovering drug addict, Emma at one time lived on the beach.

"I've been traveling from family to family to family. I couldn't afford a place of my own," said Clark.

But she's now employed full-time and with the help of a rental program that waives the credit check for approved tenants, she'll be moving in in a few weeks.

"Right now I'm just speechless. I'm so excited. I want to jump for joy," Clark said. "I actually got something for my kids."

There are approximately 1,100 homeless families staying in shelters on Oahu. About 500 are on the Leeward coast.

A drive along Farrington Highway proves there is a dire need for affordable rental housing on the Waianae coast.

Felipe Kuehu and his family have been living on the beach for the last year, waiting for an opening at a shelter.

"Guaranteed most of us would take highly advantage of any type of housing or anything that was to open up to us. Anything just to get our family off the beach," said Kuehu.

But he and others will have to wait. The second phase of Hale Wai Vista is expected to be completed in 2011.