Key Messages

§  Residents in FEMA temporary housing should continue actively working toward their Permanent Housing Plan. Regular meetings with Recertification Advisors help track progress, address questions, and connect households with resources or partner organizations to overcome challenges in securing permanent housing.

§  For questions and concerns regarding FEMA assistance, Direct Housing occupants are encouraged to contact their FEMA Recertification Advisor. Those receiving FEMA financial assistance should call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

§  Residents in FEMA-provided temporary housing are receiving a 60-day notice of a third rent increase as part of the assistance extension through February 28, 2027.

o   Beginning December 1, 2026, all applicable Direct Housing occupants will be charged 75% of the HUD Fair Market Rent (FMR) for Maui County.

o   Direct Housing households are encouraged to contact their Recertification Advisor with questions about the appeal process and required documentation.

o   FEMA is gradually increasing rent requirements to help Direct Housing occupants prepare for market rental rates, support continued progress toward permanent housing, and move FEMA’s temporary housing mission toward closure, having provided three and a half years of temporary housing assistance to Maui survivors.

§  Disaster case management services have transitioned from the State's Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) to the County of Maui's Housing Navigator Program (HNP). The new program will focus on each family’s remaining housing needs and path toward long-term stability. For information, call 808-865-4007 or email info@mauioor.com.

§  The County of Maui Office of Recovery launched two competitive Hoʻokumu Hou grant opportunities for nonprofits and government agencies supporting recovery from the 2023 Maui Wildfires. Additional information, including program policies, is available at https://hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov.

o   The grants will fund workforce development through the Economic Revitalization Ka ʻImi ʻIke Program and recovery-focused essential services through the Public Services Program.

o   The deadline to apply for both grants has been extended to October 8, 2026, 5 p.m. For more information, visit hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov/214/Bid-Opportunities

• USDA Rural Development is actively accepting applications for their Single-Family Housing Disaster Assistance Fund Program. This program provides grants and loans to very-low and low-income homeowners to repair homes damaged in the Maui Wildfire Disaster. $3,000,000 in grant funding has been made available, with a maximum grant amount currently set at $32,420. Interested residents are encouraged to contact the Hawaiʻi State Office at (808) 933-8380 or email Lennie.Okano-Kendrick@usda.gov for more information.

§  Wildfire survivors continue to make progress towards rebuilding. Currently, there are 555 permits that have been issued, 291 completed and 331 permits that are being processed. 415 homes are currently under construction.

o   Permits are processed by 4LEAF, a County of Maui contractor. To contact 4LEAF, survivors may visit in-person at the County of Maui Service Center at 110 Alaihi St., Suite 207, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or call 808-270-5724.

Protecting Yourself from Fraud and Scams During Disaster Recovery

§  FEMA encourages those hiring a contractor to beware of fraud while rebuilding. Homeowners should question contractors and remain vigilant to ensure they are engaging with legitimate contractors.

o   When hiring a contractor, individuals should use the Better Business Bureau, www.bbb.org; verify insurance, licensing and permits; and avoid large up-front payments.

o   Homeowners are also encouraged to check the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs website (https://cca.hawaii.gov/businesscheck/) to verify license status of potential contractors and review any previous complaint history.

§  After disasters, scammers may target impacted communities. Survivors are encouraged to stay alert and report suspicious activity. They should beware of unexpected calls or visits from individuals saying they work for FEMA. Genuine FEMA representatives will have a laminated badge and the survivor’s nine-digit FEMA registration number.

To report fraud:

• Email: StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov

§  Call: 1-866-223-0814

FEMA Direct Housing              

§  Continued on-time rental payments are required to remain in FEMA temporary housing. All FEMA Direct Housing participants must pay their full rent amount within 30 days from the first of each month; payments made after this period are considered late and may result in termination of assistance.

o   FEMA offers the following convenient options for rent payments:

• Online: The fastest and most secure method. Log in at https://www.fema.gov/about/payment
• By Phone: Call FEMA Finance at 866-804-2469, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST for assistance or to make a payment over the phone.
  
  

§  Keeping FEMA temporary housing units safe, sanitary and functional is required for ongoing eligibility. Households are responsible for following house rules and maintaining their units, addressing any damage beyond normal wear and tear and not making modifications to FEMA units.

§  For Direct Housing occupants, Recertification Advisors can discuss a permanent housing plan and refer those facing barriers to other housing partners for assistance. Recertification Advisors offer support but are unable to provide permanent housing, directly.

Kilohana Temporary Group Housing Site

§  FEMA continues to house wildfire survivors in 167 units at Kilohana.

§  If residents at Kilohana notice or experience illegal or threatening activity, they should call 911 immediately for emergency support. To report speeding, loud noise or other non-emergency activities, residents should call the Maui Police Department non-emergency number at 808-244-6400.

§  A bulletin board at Kilohana displays information on how to pay rent, mental health resources, and local services, activities and events.

§  Da Mobile Market: Provides free fresh produce, meat, dairy, and other food items, along with SNAP and MED-Quest application assistance from Project Vision.

o   Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

FEMA Rental Assistance

§  Survivors who received initial Rental Assistance from FEMA may be eligible for continued rental assistance depending on their need. To request an application for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance or to get help completing the form, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Operators speak many languages and are available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST, seven days a week. For language services press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages.

Keep in Touch with FEMA

§  Survivors are encouraged to keep their contact information current because missing or wrong contact information could delay the delivery of FEMA assistance. When contacting FEMA, survivors should be prepared to give the specialist the nine-digit number assigned to them when they applied for disaster assistance.

o   Visit DisasterAssistance.gov. Click on the ‘Check Status’ button to create or access an online account. Use the same email provided when applying for assistance. If the survivor applied for assistance online or using the FEMA app, they already have a disaster assistance account.

o   Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If the survivor uses a video relay service, captioned telephone service or other communication services, they should remember to give FEMA their specific number assigned for that service. Helpline operators speak many languages and lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST, seven days a week. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks another language.

State Interim Housing Program

§  The Hawaiʻi Interim Housing Program (HIHP) is a temporary government program; one of many set up by governmental, private, and non-profit entities to assist those affected by the August 2023 wildfires. There are 610 housing units of varying sizes in the program located at Hale ʻO Lāʻie (formerly the Haggai Institute in Kihei) and Ka La‘i Ola (in West Maui). The HIHP application period closed on January 15, 2025. For further information call 808-727-1550 or visit the HIHP website at https://hiorr.hawaii.gov/hihp/.

State Benefits for Low-Income Families

• Maui Relief Program (MRP) for Wildfire Disaster Survivors, managed by the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services and Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO), provides one-time benefits to eligible families with dependent children under the age of 18 and pregnant women in their third trimester, and with the assistance of non-federal funding, individuals and households without dependent children who were directly impacted by the wildfires. Eligible households must have experienced property loss or damage, or physical place of employment was lost or damaged, which resulted in a reduction of earnings or employment loss as a direct result of the emergency. In partnership with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), the Maui Relief Program offers both short-term (4 months) and long-term (4 months + deposit) rental assistance. To apply, call 808-243-4404, email NRST@meoinc.org or visit www.meoinc.org.

o   A direct application form can be found at: MRTP-FY26

o   In-person applications are by appointment only at the MEO Weinberg Family Center, 99 Mahalani St., Wailuku, HI. Please sign up for an in-person appointment at: ApptMRTP

Ho‘okumu Hou: County of Maui Office of Recovery Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program

§  The County Office of Recovery encourages residents to find official information on Hoʻokumu Hou housing programs directly through the County due to potential fraud by third-party entities. Residents are encouraged to visit hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov or visit the resource centers in Kahului and Lahaina to speak with program specialists. To apply now, visit https://apply.mauioor.com/.

§  The County of Maui’s Hoʻokumu Hou's Single-Family Homeowner Reconstruction Program helps local homeowners whose primary residence was destroyed by the wildfires to return home by providing up to $1.2 million in assistance to rebuild. To qualify, individuals must have owned a home that was destroyed by the Maui wildfires, occupied the home as their primary residence at the time of the Maui wildfires, and have a household income at or below 140% of the area median income.

o   Interested homeowners are encouraged to connect with a program specialist. Apply online or visit a resource center at Lahaina Gateway or Maui Mall in Kahului.

o   Home design renderings and floor plans for the Hoʻokumu Hou Single-Family Homeowner Reconstruction Program are available to view on the Hoʻokumu Hou website, http://hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov/.

§  Applications are also still open for the Single-Family Homeowner Reimbursement Program, which provides up to $400,000 in assistance for those who have completed reconstruction of their home. Homeowners should apply only after construction is completed.

§  The deadline for the Reconstruction and Reimbursement programs has been extended to December 31, 2026.

§  The County Office of Recovery launched two competitive Hoʻokumu Hou grant opportunities for nonprofits and government agencies supporting recovery from the 2023 Maui Wildfires.

o   The grants will fund workforce development through the Economic Revitalization Ka ʻImi ʻIke Program and recovery-focused essential services through the Public Services Program.

o   The deadline to apply for both grants has been extended to October 8, 2026, 5 p.m. For more information, visit hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov/214/Bid-Opportunities

Disaster Case Management

County of Maui Housing Navigator Program

• Disaster case management services have transitioned from the State's Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) to the County of Maui's Housing Navigator Program (HNP). The new program will focus on each family’s remaining housing needs and path toward long-term stability.
  
  
• The Housing Navigator team will contact households currently enrolled in the State’s DCMP to discuss their needs, explain what may change, and answer questions.
  
  
• Once assigned, a Housing Navigator will become the household’s primary point of contact and work with the family to develop an individualized Housing Recovery Plan. The Housing Navigator may also be attending the household’s next scheduled FEMA recertification meeting.
  
  
• Households do not need to be enrolled in the State’s DCMP to seek help and are encouraged to contact the program if they still need housing support. For information, call 808-865-4007 or email info@mauioor.com.
  
  
  
  • Beginning October 15, 2026, Housing Navigator staff will be available to meet with households at the Lahaina Resource Center, 325 Keawe St., Suite B102, Lahaina. Translation, interpretation and accessible formats are available upon request by calling the program number.

Long Term Recovery Group Disaster Case Management

§  In partnership with local organizations, the Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama Disaster Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) offers a community-led Disaster Case Management and Survivor Support program. Rooted in culturally grounded approaches and values, this program offers a local alternative with trauma-informed, holistic support.

§  To access the LTRG DCMP, call 509-846-5101 or apply online at www.mauilongtermrecovery.org/resources.

Mental Health Resources

§  FEMA continues to support the overall well-being of wildfire survivors. The agency’s work with partners at the state, county and community level has increased the availability of comprehensive resources throughout the response and recovery process. FEMA will continue to refer individuals to appropriate resources to support those encountering difficulties that are outside the scope of the agency.

o   To find a comprehensive list of resources to suit specific needs, survivors should visit MauiRecovers.org or call 988 to receive referrals over the phone. Survivors may also contact their Recertification Advisor and their Disaster Case Manager to receive lists of resources available in their area.

o   If survivors have a number with an area code outside of Hawaiʻi and wish to be connected with a local crisis counselor, use the direct number 808-832-3100.

§  The Department of Health Maui Family Guidance Center (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division) is available for youth with severe emotional and/or behavioral challenges. Call 808-243-1252 to inquire about services.

§  Na Keiki O Emalia offers peer-to-peer grief support for children and their families. Call 808-244-7467 for further information.

§  The Lahaina Comprehensive Health Center provides supportive counseling, psychiatric services and behavioral health case management. Walk-ins are welcome. For further information call 808-662-4078.

§  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline offers 24/7 crisis counseling for emotional distress related to a disaster at 800-985-5990.

§  Women Helping Women is available to support women experiencing domestic violence. Their hotline is available 24/7 at 808-579-9581.

U.S. Small Business Administration

§  SBA will accept late applications with a written explanation if SBA determines that the late filing resulted from substantial causes beyond the applicant’s control. Generally, with the passage of time, fewer situations will meet this criteria.

o   For assistance with late applications, contact the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

o   For people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or have a speech disability, dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

For More Information

§  For the latest information on the Maui wildfire recovery efforts, visit mauicounty.gov, mauirecovers.org, fema.gov/disaster/4724.

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