KUNIA — About 200 former Del Monte workers sat shoulder-to-shoulder at the Kunia Gym yesterday to learn how they could tap into a $1.2 million fund lawmakers created to help displaced workers in jeopardy of losing their homes.

The fund approved by the Legislature last year would give eligible households $1,000 a month for six months to help with rent or mortgage payments.

The program might help the family of someone like Consolacion Espiritu who worked at Del Monte for 20 years.

"It will help me," she said. "I will qualify."

The program is run by the Hawai'i Housing Finance and Development Corp., which has applications available for former employees. A housing specialist will be on hand at the old Credit Union office in Kunia from 8:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Friday.

"We need you to apply to see what you can get," said Rep. Michael Magaoay, D-46th (Schofield, Mokule'ia, North Shore). "You guys are heart and soul. We in state government are here to help."

To qualify, workers need to have been employed by Del Monte Fresh Produce at the time of its closure announcement on Feb. 1, 2006, or be a retiree. Applicants must show they are delinquent on their first home mortgage, or behind in rent payments, or show their mortgage or rent exceeds 30 percent of their gross household income. Household income includes all employed workers living in the home, not just that of laid off Del Monte workers.

Eligible workers will start receiving the assistance in July, once the paperwork has been verified, officials said.

Del Monte has said it will close its pineapple operations by the end of 2008.

"What they're doing now is something good," said Frank Perreira, a displaced worker who is self-employed. "But it's too late. We needed the help in 2006 when we got laid off. Now most of us are making money, and we won't qualify for this program."

Andrelynn Sacro, 48, another displaced worker, said the rent on her Del Monte housing was raised recently.

"I'm still in (cosmetology) school," Sacro said. "They say that if I'm not working in agriculture, I might not get to stay in my home. I'm worried about that."

Still unresolved is the future of about 115 plantation homes at Kunia Camp, which is on land leased by Del Monte from the James Campbell Co. Representatives of ILWU said yesterday that one possibility is for the Hawai'i Agriculture Research Center to purchase the 119 acres and create agriculture worker housing for independent farmers through a federal program.

"A number of people don't know what to do," said former Del Monte worker Andrew Germinaro.

"As a whole, we are dependent on the union and the research center, and hopefully they'll come up with a solution to the housing."