Key Messages
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Survivors in FEMA-provided temporary housing received notice of a second rent increase under the Individual
and Households Program extension through February 28, 2027. Beginning September 1, 2026, all Direct
Housing occupants will be charged at least 50% of the HUD Fair Market Rent for Maui County, an increase from
the previous 25% minimum.
o Households have 60 days from the date of their rental increase notice to submit an appeal. FEMA
encourages submitting appeals with all required documents as soon as possible for timely processing.
Appeals will be processed within 90 days of receipt. Until a decision is made, households are responsible for
the full rent amount.
o Direct Housing households are encouraged to contact their Recertification Advisor with questions about the
appeal process and required documentation.
o Collecting rent prepares Direct Housing occupants for market rental rates and encourages them to actively
pursue permanent housing. FEMA will gradually increase rent requirements during the assistance extension
period to support this transition.
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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.
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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.
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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 is September 24, 2026, 5 p.m. For more information, visit
hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov/214/Bid-Opportunities
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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.
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Wildfire survivors continue to make progress towards rebuilding. Currently, there are 567 permits that have
been issued, 274 completed and 341 permits that are being processed. 410 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.
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Protecting Yourself from Fraud and Scams During Disaster Recovery
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FEMA encourages survivors hiring a contractor to beware of fraud while rebuilding. Survivors 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 Survivors 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.
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After disasters, scammers may target survivors. 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
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- 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
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, September 9, 2026, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

FEMA Rental Assistance
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-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.
- 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.
- 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
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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
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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
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Ho‘okumu Hou: County of Maui Office of Recovery Community Development Block Grant
Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program
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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/.
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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/.
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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.
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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.
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 is September 24, 2026, 5 p.m. For more information, visit
hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov/214/Bid-Opportunities

Disaster Case Management

County Disaster Case Management
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The County’s Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) helps assess and address needs through a disaster
recovery plan which includes resources, decision making priorities, and providing guidance to help survivors
navigate their recovery. DCMP services are available at no cost to Maui wildfire survivors.
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The County of Maui took over oversight of the DCMP from the state on Aug. 11, 2026. As the County works to
transition the DCMP to a new long-term provider, services will continue without interruption, and participants can
continue to work with their current case manager. Participants do not need to reapply or take action at this time.
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Updates to the program and enrollment information will be announced by the County soon. Until the transition to
a new provider is completed, survivors can enroll in the County DCMP by calling 211 and press '4'. To enroll from
the continental U.S., call 808-ASK-2000 or email MauiDHSDCMP@gem.org.

Long Term Recovery Group Disaster Case Management
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In partnership with local organizations, the Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama Disaster Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) has
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.
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To access the LTRG DCMP, call 509-846-5101 or apply online at www.mauilongtermrecovery.org/resources.
Mental Health Resources
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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.
o 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.
o Na Keiki O Emalia offers peer-to-peer grief support for children and their families. Call 808-244-7467 for
further information.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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For the latest information on the Maui wildfire recovery efforts, visit mauicounty.gov, mauirecovers.org,
fema.gov/disaster/4724.

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