Hawaii State Rent Relief and Housing Assistance Program

Governor David Ige announced a new program to help tenants who are struggling or who have fallen behind on their rent due to the state COVID-19 economic shutdown.  Eligible renters are:

• Hawaii renters who are unemployed or partially unemployed due to the pandemic.
• Have an income less than 100% of the area median income.
  • Single Household - $88,200
  • Two-Person Household - $100,800
  • Three-Person Household - $113,400
  • Four-Person Household - $125,900
  • Visit https://www.hihousinghelp.com/#eligible for larger households.

Rent payments can be as high as $2,000 per month and payments will go directly to the landlord and can be made in lump sum payments up to three months at a time.  Applications are being accepted for rent payments from August 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.  The $100 million in initial funding is being provided by the CARES Act.  Money to cover rent from March 1^st will be provided in a second phase to be announce in the future.

The Hawaii Rent Relief and Housing Assistance Program is available to:

• Hawaii Residents age 18 or older.
• Proof of valid and current tenancy for their primary residence in Hawaii.
• Can demonstrate a loss of income directly resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

More details are provided on www.hihousinghelp.com.  Tenants can apply online by visiting www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org or www.auw.org.  Tenants can also apply by calling 808-521-4357 if you do not have internet access.

Tenants should contact their landlords directly for the necessary documentation need to apply for assistance.  Landlords should send this information to their tenants if they have fallen behind in rent as a result of being laid off due to the COVID-19 economic shutdown.