#rental assistance

In his third State of the State address, Gov. Josh Green took aim this morning at Hawaiʻi’s high cost of living, affordable housing, accessible health care and Maui’s ongoing recovery from the August 2023 wildfires.

Since the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires, nearly 2,000 individuals are still being housed in hotels on Maui. The Federal Emergency Management Agency reports that currently, 1,969 survivors are sheltered in nine hotels and other sites. The agency provided an update on housing, spending and resources as wildfire recovery nears the nine month mark.

This additional funding is a second allocation awarded to help communities in Maui recover in the wake of the devastating wildfires. HUD provided $1.3 million in RUSH funding in August 2023.

In direct response to the estimated 2,430 families or 6,283 individuals who are still in need of housing after being displaced by the Maui wildfires, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement announced today that it has launched a new centralized housing website. HelpingMaui.org will help survivors find housing, while also serving as a platform for property owners and managers to offer their properties to survivors.

The deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance has been extended another 30 days, meaning homeowners and renters with uninsured or underinsured damage to their property from the Maui wildfires have until Saturday, Dec. 9, to apply.  This is also the deadline for Maui’s homeowners, renters and businesses to apply to the US Small Business Administration for a low-interest disaster loan for physical property damage.

Residents of Maui who were affected by the Aug. 8 wildfires and received an initial rental assistance from FEMA may be eligible for continued rental assistance. 

To kick off National Homeownership Month, the US Department of Agriculture is highlighting federal programs that help people in rural, tribal and underserved areas buy, build and repair affordable homes — and to pay their rent.

Op-Ed: Maui County Councilmember Yuki Lei K. Sugimura provides information about the approximately $35 million that is still available for Maui County residents who need help with their rent, mortgage or utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Renters and mortgage holders facing difficulties making their payments may qualify for assistance – including with back rent – and could receive information and help in applying for relief at Maui Economic Opportunity in-person outreach events and offices.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is expanding the Native Hawaiian Rental & Utilities Relief Program to include all eligible Native Hawaiians living in Hawaiʻi, and not just people on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands waiting list.

More than 250 households are receiving help from Maui County’s Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program. Residents have received more than $675,000 to make overdue rent and utility payments.

Maui Economic Opportunity staff members will be available to assist COVID-19 affected individuals and families with mortgage, rental and utility assistance applications at various times and locations in June and July.

Mortgage help is available for Maui County residents impacted by COVID-19 through the Community Development Block Grant Mortgage Assistance Program, administered by Maui Economic Opportunity.

Millions of dollars in federal assistance to households behind on rent and electric bills are now available through the County of Maui.

DHHL’s COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program will provide eligible renter households with payments for security deposit, rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, utilities and home energy cost arrears, and other expenses related to housing incurred due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The public housing authority in Maui County is set to receive $423,813 in federal funds to help low income families, elderly residents and disabled individuals with rent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The County of Maui reminds residents that rental assistance may be available to those who have lost their job or have reduced income by more than 25% as a direct result of COVID-19.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has expanded its COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program to include Undivided Interest lessees who have lost income or their job as a result of COVID-19.

The Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority in accordance with Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules, will temporarily reopen the waiting list for the State Rent Supplement Program, from today through Saturday.