Find Resources for the Maui Wildfire Relief
If you are with a nonprofit organization seeking funding, please complete our short application. If you have any questions on the application or our grants process, please email our HCF team at mauistrong@hcf-hawaii.org.
HCF is seeking funding requests for the Maui Strong Fund that have clear alignment with coordinated efforts on the ground on Maui. Requested fund amounts should align with the capacity of the organization to manage the grant funds (i.e., the organization has sufficient staff, accounting procedures, experience with programming, etc.). Independent efforts or self-deployment from neighbor islands or out-of-state organizations that have not been requested by Maui-based communities will likely not be funded. Read Maui Strong Funding Opportunity for detailed instructions on how to apply for a grant from the Maui Strong Fund.
501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for financial resources from the Maui Strong Fund.
Non-501(c)(3) organizations are encouraged to find an existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to serve as fiscal sponsor, and submitted projects must be charitable in nature. Individuals are not eligible to apply.
To apply for funding, please log in or register for an account to the Grants Portal. If you need assistance, please view our Applicant User Guide, Frequently Asked Questions, How-To Videos, and/or submit a support ticket.
HCF staff will review applications weekly. Applicants should receive a status update or decision from HCF staff within one to three weeks.
Maui Strong Fund Frequently Asked Questions
As of August 25, 2023, $67,559,959 has been donated to the Maui Strong Fund.
Click here to see the list of past Maui Strong Fund Grantees.
As of August 16, 2023, in little over a week after the devastating Maui wildfires, the Maui Strong Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation has received $35M from over 125,000 donors in 40 countries to support Maui communities affected by the devastating wildfires. Their team has been working with partners on the ground to understand the evolving needs and deploy these funds quickly and for high impact.
Partners in this round of funding are providing a wide range of important services including:
- coordination and shipping of fresh food and goods from Moloka‘i farmers, hunters and fishers
- temporary shelter support
- rental deposits and assistance for transitional housing- support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities- refrigerated trucks for food storage
- mobile clinics and traveling medical care
- gift cards to meet youth needs
- transportation coordination
- grief support, crisis intervention, mental health and well-being counseling
- gas and grocery gift cards
- standalone power stations
- internet access and mobile device charging
- emergency mobile pharmaceutical support
- vision clinics for those who need contacts or glasses replaced
- immigrant-focused services, including free green card replacement
- emergency shelter and feed for dogs, cats, and livestock that need temporary housing while displaced residents take care of other needs, and more.
If you have any questions about the application process, please email us at mauistrong@hcf-hawaii.org.
Proposals for Phase 2 Maui Wildfire Disaster Relief grants will be accepted until 5 p.m. HST on September 29, 2023. Maui United Way’s Wildfire Disaster Relief grants support programs providing vital services to individuals and families impacted by the August 2023 wildfires in Lahaina and Kula.
This initiative aims to provide crucial support to individuals and families affected by the devastating August 2023 fires in Lahaina and Kula.
Key Details:
The online application and more information is accessible at mauiunitedway.org/relieffunding. Notifications of grant awards will be communicated in mid-October, with the grant period starting on Oct. 20, 2023.
Grants will be awarded in the following four funding focus areas and must be used to support services provided between October 2023 and January 2024.
Maui Fire Disaster Relief grant awards will be capped at $10,000. Agencies are limited to one grant application per phase.
Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. HST on Friday, September 29, 2023. Notifications of grant awards will be made by mid-October 2023. The grant period will begin on October 20, 2023, and conclude on January 31, 2024.
MUW is committed to ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our programs and services and seeks to fund programs that provide needed resources, opportunities, and support to the individuals and families most significantly impacted by the wildfires.
This grant application is open to all qualified 501(c)(3) organizations within the island of Maui that are directly assisting individuals and families impacted by the wildfires. For information visit Maui United Way's Maui Fire Disaster Relief Nonprofit Funding page, here.
Nonprofits can apply and submit their application directly here.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that Maui County is accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from wildfires and high winds. ECP signup is open now and will end on October 17, 2023.
The approved ECP practices under this authorization include debris removal to address wildfire and high winds damage to eligible farmland, livestock fences and conservation structures and installations.
ECP assists producers with the recovery cost to restore the farmland to pre-disaster conditions. Approved ECP applicants may receive up to 75 percent of the cost of approved restoration activity. Limited resource, socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers may receive up to 90 percent cost-share.
Producers with damage from such events must apply for assistance prior to beginning reconstructive work. FSA’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and environmental compliance review process is required to be completed before any actions are taken. Submitting an application after reconstructive work has been completed may not qualify for ECP.
FSA county committees will evaluate applications based on an on-site inspection of the damaged land, taking into consideration the type and extent of the damage. An on-site inspection does not guarantee that cost-share funding will be provided.
The 2018 Farm Bill increased the payment limitation for ECP to $500,000 per disaster. The use of ECP funds is limited to activities to return the land to the relative pre-disaster condition. Conservation concerns that were present on the land prior to the disaster are not eligible for ECP assistance.
For more information on ECP, please contact the Maui County FSA office at 808-871-5500 ext. 2 or visit farmers.gov/recover.
For more information on government response and available resources visit https://www.usa.gov/hawaii-wildfires and https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4724.
Contact Farm Service Agency:
Mr. James Robello
Farm Service Agency
County Executive Director
James.robello@usda.gov808-214-1740
Mr. Darrin Vander Plas
Farm Service Agency
Manager, Farm Loan Programs
Darrin.vanderplas@usda.gov
808-214-1739
Financial Assistance Benefits for Families with Children
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federal and state funded grant program run by the Department of Human Services (DHS), Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD). The program was first implemented in 1997 as the result of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF Program is a federal funded block grant program. A primary eligibility requirement to receive TANF funds is U.S. citizenship. TANF funding is limited to U.S. citizens, single or two-parent households with minor dependent children. These program requirements are in accordance with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) (Welfare Reform). Prior to Welfare Reform, the Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) did not distinguish between citizen or non-citizen or single or two-parent households.
There are four (4) TANF purposes:
TANF Purpose 1: “To provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives.”
• Direct cash assistance payments to families • Self-sufficiency program • Income disregard • Financial counseling
All programs are subject to established eligibility criteria that will be explained to you by a DHS worker.
TANF Purpose 2: “To end the dependence of parents on government assistance benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage.”
TANF applicants and recipients are referred to the Department’s First-To-Work (FTW) program to prepare for financial independence. An assigned FTW case manager will help you reach your employment goal with any of the following activities and supportive services:
• Job search and job preparedness • Subsidized / Unsubsidized employment • Preparation for GED or high school equivalency • Job skills training • On-the-job training
• Domestic violence advocacy services • Ongoing counseling and supportt • Supportive services: • Child care subsidies • Transportation assistancet • Work- and education-related expenses
TANF Purpose 3: “To prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies.”
DHS has partnered with a variety of community-based agencies to provide Hawaii families with programs designed to help prevent teen and out-of-wedlock pregnancies. These programs include:
• After-school programs • Youth abstinence and pregnancy prevention programs • Positive youth development programs • Youth mentoring services
TANF Purpose 4: “To encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.”
Programs provided by DHS and community-based agencies that teach the skills necessary to build strong families. Services include:
• Fatherhood services • Family strengthening programs • Marriage / Couples counseling • Parenting skills • Home-based parenting and family counseling
WHERE TO APPLY?
You may apply for TANF financial assistance benefits at a DHS Processing Center. For a list of centers, please visit the DHS website here. Maui County processing Centers are:
Maui Processing Center
State Building
54 High St. #125
Wailuku, HI 96793
Fax: 808-984-8333
Email: MauiPC@dhs.hawaii.gov
Lunalilo Building – Lobby remains closed until further notice
35 Lunalilo St., Suite 300
Wailuku, HI 96793
Fax: 808-243-5114
Email: MauiPC@dhs.hawaii.gov
To reach our Statewide Branch Support Desk, please dial toll free: 1-855-643-1643. You may also call the Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643.
You may apply for assistance online through the Public Assistance Information System (PAIS) here.
The REALTORS® Relief Foundation Application for Disaster Relief Assistance is available to qualified applicants towards one of the following options:
• Monthly mortgage expenses for primary residence that was damaged by the Wildfire Disaster; or
• Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the Wildfire Disaster; or
• Hotel reimbursement due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the Wildfire Disaster.
Relief assistance is limited to a maximum of $3,000 per household.
Deadline for application submission is December 31, 2023. Please be aware that this assistance is for housing relief only; other expenses including second mortgages (home equity or loans), clothing, appliance, equipment, vehicle purchase, rental or repair, and/or mileage are ineligible for reimbursement under this program.
Recipient must be a full-time resident and U.S. citizen or legally submitted for residence in the United States. Photo identification to show proof of residency will be required.
Funds will be distributed through the Hawai‘i REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. In order to provide for a reasonable and equitable distribution of funds, assistance will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. All grants are contingent upon the availability of funds.
Each application will be reviewed to ensure all eligibility requirements are being met and supporting documentation is provided. Once the application is processed, the checks will be issued and sent to the REALTORS® Association of Maui office.
Applications and questions can be submitted to: mauirelief@hawaiirealtors.com.
Please allow 10-15 business days for us to review and process your application.
HOPE Inside Disaster strengthens and aids recovery efforts by assisting individuals and business owners with the short-, medium-, and long-term economic and financial challenges they face following disasters and emergencies.
Operation HOPE is committed to supporting the relief efforts in Maui by supporting individuals, families and businesses affected by the Maui wildfires through Project Restore Hope Maui.
They are mobilizing certified coaches to guide victims of this disaster through the complex application process for post-disaster federal relief and insurance claims.
Read more about Operation HOPE's Disaster Recovery Services:
• FEMA applications and appeals
• Small business recovery / SBA Loans
• Obtaining copies of destroyed documents
• Insurance claims assistance and appeals
• Managing mortgage payments on damaged houses
• Assistance negotiating and working with your creditors
• Financial counseling
• Diaster recovery budget
• Home inspections and repair contracts
• Foreclosure prevention
If you are small business owner or individual in need of our financial disaster recover services, please register using the link below, and a member of HOPE team will contact you. Get Help from Operation Hope Now
Operation HOPE does not provide direct financial aid. However, their team will work diligently with you to obtain the resources and financial help you need to facilitate your recovery.
You can also contact by calling the HOPE Coalition America hotline at 888-388-HOPE to a certified financial disaster specialist.
If you have just experienced a natural disaster or are in need of immediate shelter, food, clothing or medical care, please reach out to your local American Red Cross chapter and your local authorities who should be able to direct you on how to get immediate assistance.
Find your Red Cross chapter
If you are engaged in supporting the current needs of Hawaii, as they recover from the recent fire storm, please consider joining the Coalition of the Willing, and make a commitment to provide resources, technical support or mentorship.
OFFER support or post a NEED for support or services in this local community disaster relief Facebook page. The purpose of this group is where we can have a "go to" hub to locally exchange information of supplies/help *needed* and services and help we can *offer* due to disasters on Maui.
This group will only help with YOUR help. Please SHARE this group. Invite people. Etc. Let's help our friends and families get their lives back!
✔️1. If you have something to *OFFER* (manpower, supplies, services, clean up, food, transportation, housing, etc) please start your post in ALL CAPS saying *OFFER*
✔️2. If you are in *NEED* of something (specific supplies, manpower, services, food, transportation, housing, etc) please start your post in ALL CAPS saying *NEED*.
✔️3. If you have an announcement of volunteer opportunities, meetings, new developments on Maui regarding the fire, legit donation websites, etc. Please start your post in ALL CAPS saying *ANNOUNCEMENT*
PLEASE try to keep to these categories so we can use this group to be as effective and helpful as possible
Please keep in mind whenever DONATING to ANY cause, please only donate items in clean, unstained, smell free and working conditions. It is disrespectful to think that anyone would want stained, smelly or broken items.
Maui Nui Strong is a program of the County of Maui Economic Development that connects our residents, businesses, and visitors to useful information about Maui County, our diverse islands, and a variety of resources that help to promote thriving and vibrant communities.
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