Housing Programs for Survivors
Two programs, one application
If you were displaced by the fire, we may be able to find you long-term housing. Sign up so that we can try match you with the right housing opportunity.
We cannot guarantee you will receive housing. We do not have an inventory of empty homes. We are working to sign new leases all the time. When we do secure a new unit, we look at all of the housing applications we have received and match the housing to one of the families or individuals for whom it is a good fit.
If you are registered with FEMA and they have contacted you about a FEMA Direct Lease property, you should complete all paperwork including the required background check promptly to have an opportunity to receive housing through them. Signing up for our program does not impact your eligibility for FEMA’s program, and provides more opportunities for you to find housing.
If you have any questions about your FEMA eligibility for their temporary housing options, you can contact their helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
Lease Program
We are actively securing 12 month leases on Maui properties. Some are currently Short-Term Rentals which are mostly in West Maui and South Maui. Others are already Long-Term Rentals and are scattered throughout the island.
In all cases, CNHA leases the unit from the owner, and you sign a lease agreement directly with CNHA.
Often, these units are more expensive than what most people can afford. We will work with you to determine how much you can afford, and see if you qualify for rental assistance from FEMA and other philanthropic sources.
Host Housing Support Program
If you are open to living in the spare room or living space of a local family anywhere in Hawai’i rent-free, then mark the Host Housing Support Program option in your application. We will connect you with hosts whose housing matches your needs, and you can decide if it is a good fit.
Hosts who sign up cannot charge you rent, but can receive financial assistance from CNHA to cover their additional expenses.
Have family or friends who are already housing you or could house you? Great! Once you move in with them, your host can fill out the Host Housing Support Program application to receive financial assistance.
DHHL Wildfire Relief Program
Additionally, we have a separate program for native Hawaiian families who are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the wildfires on Maui and Hawai’i Island.
In partnership with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), we are providing emergency rental assistance to native Hawaiian families eligible to reside on Hawaiian Home Lands, including Lessees, Undivided Interest Lessees, and applicants on the DHHL Waiting List.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can you find me housing in West Maui?
We know that most people want to live in West Maui. We are trying to secure units all over Maui, including West Maui. But, our program will not secure enough units in West Maui for everybody who wants to live there.
If you registered with FEMA, and they have contacted you about a FEMA Direct Lease property, then you should complete all paperwork including the background check promptly. If you are eligible, that is your best chance for securing housing in West Maui.
Signing up for our program does not impact your eligibility for FEMA’s program and gives you more chances at housing.
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How do payments work?
If we match you with one of the units we have leased, and you accept the housing and sign a sublease, there are different scenarios.
If you are registered with FEMA and eligible for rental assistance - officially called Continued Temporary Housing Assistance (CTHA) - you will need to apply for it. Once you receive that assistance, you will pay that to us. Note that you can only apply after you have already signed a lease with us.
Regardless of whether you are eligible for FEMA rental assistance or not, you may be required to pay some portion of the rent directly - this will be part of our lease agreement with you and will be based on how expensive the unit is and your financial ability.
Behind the scenes, we may cover some of the rent with funding from CNHA, American Red Cross, or the State of Hawaii. This is not a detail that you will need to worry about.
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Tell me more about FEMA Continued Temporary Housing Assistance (CTHA)
If you are registered with FEMA, received initial rental assistance from them, and do not receive an Additional Living Expense (ALE) benefit from your insurance, you probably qualify for FEMA CTHA.
After you sign a lease with any landlord, you will need to pay your security deposit and first month’s rent. Then, with your signed lease, receipts for security deposit and first month’s rent, and some other documentation related to your pre- and post-disaster income and housing expenses, you apply directly with FEMA.
If FEMA approves you, you will receive 3 months worth of rental assistance directly from FEMA that you must use to pay your rent. Save your receipts, because you will need to re-apply every 3 months. FEMA CTHA is available through February 2025.
All of this applies whether you get your lease through CNHA’s housing program, or find your own rental out in the community.
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Tell me more about FEMA Direct Lease
Our program is not FEMA Direct Lease. But, if you qualify, FEMA should have already contacted you about the program. You should complete all paperwork and the required background check promptly. You can also apply to our program without impacting your FEMA eligibility.
FEMA has the most money and is securing the most units in West Maui. If FEMA Direct Lease finds you a home, their program can house you for 12-24 months.
If you have any questions about your FEMA eligibility for their temporary housing options, you can contact their helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
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I have more questions
If this FAQ didn’t answer all of your questions, then you should visit the Kākoʻo Maui Resource Center at the Maui Mall.
153 E Kamehameha Ave, Ste 101
Kahului, HI 96732Or, email us at kakoohousing@hawaiiancouncil.org.
