FEMA adjusting Lahaina rental assistance to wind down inflated rental prices

SA Nov 14, 2024: … As of Tuesday, 1,182 households are temporarily residing in FEMA’s direct lease housing.

Starting Feb. 10, 2025, when the extended period of financial assistance and direct temporary housing assistance begins, FEMA will implement a rental requirement. Rent will be based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Market Rent and adjusted according to each household’s ability to pay. FEMA has also approved a streamlined process to simplify rent calculations….

(TRANSLATION: FEMA will now attempt to wind down the inflated rental prices they have been paying on Maui.  Will it work?)

read … FEMA extends assistance to Maui survivors; Schatz asks for further aid

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STATE OF HAWAIʻI UPDATE ON RENT PAYMENTS FOR MAUI WILDFIRE SURVIVORS RECEIVING DIRECT HOUSING ASSISTANCE

HI-EMA News Release 2024-082,  November 22, 2024     

HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are updating Maui wildfire survivors on the rental assistance program, which has been extended beyond February 10, 2025. As part of this extension, FEMA will begin collecting rent from Direct Housing Assistance participants beginning March 1, 2025, based on their ability to pay. FEMA has begun the process of notifying affected families of this change.

The state of Hawaiʻi is committed to continually supporting disaster survivors as they navigate the recovery process and continues to work alongside key partners to ensure that all affected families are aware of the upcoming changes to their housing assistance.

It is important for families to stay informed and prepare for these upcoming changes. The Hawaiʻi Office of Recovery and Resiliency is administering the Hawaiʻi Interim Housing Program (HIHP) and continues to work with survivors to find housing solutions for those who were not eligible for FEMA Direct Housing. Additional information can be found at https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hhfdc/hawaiistaterecovers/ or, by calling 808-727-1550.

For more information, individuals can contact FEMA directly or visit the Maui County Office of Recovery. Additionally, they can reach out to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) or call the FEMA temporary housing hotline at 808-784-1600.

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