Former Del Monte Fresh Produce workers and retirees in danger of losing their homes may seek mortgage and rental assistance from the state, the Hawai'i Housing Finance and Development Corp. said yesterday.

Officials will discuss the housing assistance program at an informational meeting at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Kunia Gym.

Under the program, an eligible household may receive only one assistance grant of up to $1,000 per month for no more than six months, the HHFDC said.

To be eligible, applicants must have been employed by Del Monte Fresh Produce at the time of its closure announcement on Feb. 1, 2006, or be a retiree. Applicants also must show they are delinquent on first home mortgages or rent payments or show that their mortgage or rent costs exceed 30 percent of their gross household income.

The program is the result of a law enacted last year that set aside $1.2 million over two years to help some of the displaced Del Monte workers with housing costs.

Del Monte announced in February 2006 that it would close its Kunia pineapple operation by the end of 2008. But in November that year, the company said it had accelerated those plans and was closing immediately, laying off 551 employees. Workers were paid through January 2007.

It's unclear how many workers need help with housing costs. ILWU Local 142 social worker Joanne Kealoha said she hadn't heard of any former workers on the verge of losing their homes.

But while the majority of former employees have found jobs, at least some are earning less money, she said.

Kealoha also said about 120 families living at Del Monte's Kunia Camp have seen their rent increase this year.