Maui County began a housing navigator program Thursday for households affected by the August 2023 wildfires. It takes over case management services that the state had been providing, the county announced.

The Housing Navigator Program will contact current participants in the state’s Disaster Case Management Program by Oct. 23, according to the county. Households that were not enrolled in the state program can also seek help.

There were approximately 1,100 open cases when the program transferred from the Federal Emergency Management Agency-funded, state-led Disaster Case Management Program to the county-funded and led Housing Navigator Program, according to the county. This includes all participants remaining in FEMA and state housing programs.

Participants will be matched with a housing navigator who will build on the recovery planning they have already completed, so they will not have to start over. The program will focus on each household’s remaining housing needs and long-term stability.

The state Department of Human Services has run the Disaster Case Management Program since the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires, helping households assess needs, create recovery plans and connect with resources.

“Our responsibility is to meet families where they are, build on the progress they have already made and make sure they have someone by their side to help navigate the decisions ahead,” Mayor Richard Bissen said. “This program is about giving families the support, resources and guidance they deserve as they continue working toward a safe, stable place to call home.”

Contractor selected for administration

The county selected the contractor BDO to administer the program. Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. will conduct initial eligibility reviews, and Hawaiian Council will provide the navigator team. The three-year contract for BDO to administer the program is approximately $4.5 million, according to the county.

MEO Chief Executive Officer Maggie Batangan said her organization will review each household’s circumstances and help connect families with available resources.

“This program is about helping Lahaina families remain connected to their home and community,” said Kūhiō Lewis, chief executive officer of Hawaiian Council. “By addressing housing barriers and providing continued support, we hope to create more opportunities for Lahaina residents to remain on Maui, rebuild their lives here, and continue to be part of Lahaina’s future.”

What participants can expect

The county’s Office of Recovery will send current participants a notice explaining the transition. A participant’s case manager may change, officials said.

Once assigned, a navigator becomes the household’s main point of contact and works with the family on an individualized Housing Recovery Plan. The navigator will also attend the household’s next Federal Emergency Management Agency recertification meeting scheduled on or after Oct. 1. The county said information needed to support a household’s recovery may be transferred in accordance with privacy and confidentiality requirements.

Until they are contacted, participants should keep searching for housing, gathering documents, attending appointments and working on the goals in their current recovery plans, the county said. They should also respond to calls, emails or letters from the navigator team.

Housing help

Navigators will help households find housing and community resources, address barriers to securing housing and prepare for changes in disaster assistance, including the eventual end of FEMA rental assistance, according to the county.

Eligible households may also receive rental assistance or help exploring county-supported temporary housing, including Hale ʻO Lāʻie in Kīhei and Kilohana in Lahaina. The county said assistance and placement depend on eligibility, individual circumstances and availability.

People displaced from their primary residences by the wildfires who still need housing support can contact the program to discuss their situation and learn what help or referrals may be available, the county said.

For information, visit mauirecovers.org/navigator, call 808-865-4007 or email info@mauioor.com. Starting Oct. 15, navigator staff will meet with households at the Lahaina Resource Center, 325 Keawe St., Suite B102. Translation, interpretation and accessible formats are available by calling the program number.