KEY MESSAGES:

• FEMA’s goal is to support wildfire survivors on their path to permanent housing, while helping the Maui community navigate the road to recovery. FEMA’s programs provide temporary assistance designed to help households during their most critical time of need until they secure permanent housing.
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• Survivors in FEMA’s Direct Housing program have been assigned a recertification advisor to support them on their path to permanent housing. Staying in regular contact with their advisor is essential to remain eligible for temporary housing. Maintaining open communication and collaboration with recertification advisors ensures survivors receive the support and guidance needed throughout the recovery process.
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• FEMA is collecting rent from survivors living in FEMA Direct Temporary Housing units. Rent is due on the 1st of each month. Paying on time helps ensure continued support and keeps survivor accounts in good standing.
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• Direct Housing occupants who commit general conduct or program eligibility violations may be issued a 15-day warning notice and will undergo a revocation process through which either the violation is resolved, or the occupant is removed from the unit.
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• For comprehensive resource support visit MauiRecovers.org

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HOUSING:

• As wildfire survivors continue to work towards rebuilding, there are currently 383 permits that have been issued and 301 permits that are being processed. Permits are processed by 4LEAF, a Maui County 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 may call 808-270-5724.

Direct Housing

• After providing 18 months of rent-free housing, FEMA began charging rent on March 1 to those in the Direct Housing program. This transition marks a step toward restoring normalcy and encourages survivors to resume their regular routines and financial responsibilities. Notably, 91% of households currently in FEMA Direct Housing were renters before the disaster and are already accustomed to making monthly rent payments.
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• FEMA offers several convenient options for rent payments:
  
  • Online: The fastest and most secure method. Log in at www.fema.gov/payments to pay instantly.
  • By Phone: Call FEMA Finance at 866-804-2469, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST (six hours ahead of Hawaiʻi time), for assistance or to make a payment over the phone.
  • By Mail: Survivors should send their check or money order to the address provided in their billing statement. They should allow additional time for mail delivery.
  • In-person: FEMA staff is available to help households pay rent 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday at the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, located at 153 E Kamehameha Ave., Suite 101 in Kahului and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday at Maui County’s Office of Recovery at the Lahaina Gateway located at 325 Keawe St. in Lahaina.

• All Direct Housing participants must pay their full rental amount by the deadline in their rental bill. Payments made beyond the 1^st of each month will be considered late and will be subject to a late fee equal to the HUD Fair Market Rent of the unit they are occupying as well as associated penalty fees related to the monthly cost for the unit, i.e., Property Management Company fees, Performance Maintenance Inspection fees, furnishing fees and utilities.
• If the household does not pay the HUD Fair Market Rent and all associated fees in full, they will be removed from their current unit and from FEMA’s Direct Housing program entirely.
• For questions about Direct Housing billing, to inquire on whether a rental payment has been received, or to pay rent, contact FEMA Finance at 866-804-2469, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST (six hours ahead of Hawaiʻi time). Survivors can also email FEMA-Finance-AccountsReceivable-Deposits@FEMA.dhs.gov for assistance.
• For questions on FEMA temporary housing survivors should contact their recertification advisor or call the Individual Assistance Housing Hotline at 808-784-1600.

Kilohana Temporary Group Housing Site

• With no resident manager at the Kilohana Temporary Group Housing Site residents are encouraged to report concerns or potential violations to their FEMA recertification advisor immediately.

Primary Sites

• Six Lahaina homeowners in the Direct Housing program will have FEMA temporary housing units placed on their private property while they rebuild their home.
• The property must meet lot size requirements and be outside of the high hazard coastal floodplain.

Secondary Sites

• FEMA is in the process of placing approximately 40 temporary manufactured housing units on three privately owned properties in Lahaina.ʻ
  
  • The goal is to have all units in place and households licensed in before the start of the new school year.

• Thirty-three units have arrived on Maui and after being transported from San Diego on barges. From May 12 to 16, they will be transported nightly from Kahului to Lahaina.

• Rental Assistance
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  • Survivors who locate temporary housing on their own may get help from the Rental Assistance Program.
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  • 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 that speak many languages are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. HST, seven days a week. Hours may be longer during high disaster activity. For language services press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FEMA:

• Survivors are encouraged to keep their information current because missing or wrong 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.
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• Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Kākoʻo Maui Relief & Aid Services Center located at 153 E Kamehameha Ave., Suite 101 in Kahului is open with a FEMA representative. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
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• Maui County’s Office of Recovery at the Lahaina Gateway located at 325 Keawe St. in Lahaina, next to the Ace Hardware Store, is open with FEMA representatives. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.
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• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov Click on the green ‘Check Status’ button to create 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.
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• 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 10 p.m. HST, seven days a week. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks another language.

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DEBRIS REMOVAL:

• If issues arise or debris is found after a survivor’s property was cleared, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will review the survivor’s case to confirm qualification and determine next steps. For questions or assistance, contact the Debris Call Center at
  877-214-9117.

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DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENT:

• The Disaster Case Management Program 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.
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• Disaster Case Management services are available at no cost to Maui wildfire survivors. Any survivor who was affected by the wildfires, regardless of FEMA eligibility or other federal assistance, may request help from specially trained disaster case managers. They will help assist to develop a unique and comprehensive recovery plan.
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• To access the DCMP, call 211 and press '4' to get started and enroll today. DCMP enrollment from the mainland, call 808-ASK-2000.

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CONFIDENTIAL CRISIS COUNSELING SERVICES AVAILABLE:

• The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling 988. The lifeline connects individuals with local crisis centers based on their area code. In Hawaiʻi, callers will be directed to Hawaiʻi Cares. If you 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.
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• The Lahaina Community Health Center’s Kokua Maui line provides emotional support and resource guidance to survivors of the Lahaina and Kula wildfires. For support, call 808-658-9769 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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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.

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STATE BENEFITS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES:

• ‍Maui Relief TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) Program, managed by the state Department of Human Services and Maui Economic Opportunity, offers cash assistance to families affected by the wildfires. Eligible families must have at least one child under age 18 and must have experienced property loss or damage, and a reduction of earnings or employment as a direct result of the fires. The program also offers four months of support for long-term rentals. To apply, call 808-243-4404; email NRST@meoinc.org or visit www.meoinc.org.  

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U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION:

• SBA has two offices open in Maui County to provide a wide range of services to businesses and individuals impacted by the wildfires, including high winds. No appointment is necessary. All services are provided free of charge.
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  • Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement located at 70 E Kaʻahumanu, Unit D-1 in Kahului. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST Monday to Friday.
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  • Maui County Office of Recovery at the Lahaina Gateway, Unit 102-B (near Ace Hardware) located at 325 Keawe St. in Lahaina. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. HST Monday – Tuesday and Thursday – Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. HST Wednesday.
• SBA will accept late applications if delays were caused by circumstances beyond the applicant’s control.
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  • For assistance with late applications, visit any of the three SBA Centers on Maui or contact the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or visit www.sba.gov/disaster or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
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  • 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 and Hawaii Wildfires - YouTube. Follow FEMA on social media: @FEMARegion9 and facebook.com/fema.