Find Resources for the Maui Wildfire Relief
American Red Cross enrollment for emergency housing now closed. Enrollment for non-congregate sheltering for everyone who had a primary residence on Maui that was destroyed or made uninhabitable by the recent wildfires, regardless of citizenship status, ended on Friday, September 15. Eligible households who have not received a call, text or email from the Red Cross and believe they have qualifying damage can visit redcross.org/hihelp for more information.
Prospective new entrants will now be considered by the State of Hawaii.
Safe Harbor ends September 29. As part of the Red Cross non-congregate shelter program, there is a period referred to as Safe Harbor, during which eligibility requirements for FEMA disaster assistance do not apply. For the Maui wildfires, the period of Safe Harbor ends September 29. By that date, the Red Cross will gather eligibility data on survivors in our care to help them determine the next steps in their recovery.
Anyone who meets requirements once the Safe Harbor Sheltering program ends can expect to receive lodging support for the next six months to a year. The determination for a continued stay beyond the Safe Harbor end date is based on meeting eligibility criteria, which is a determination of the state and FEMA and not a decision made by the Red Cross.
To register with FEMA for shelter or financial assistance, call 1 (800) 621-3362, visit disasterassistance.gov, or apply through the FEMA smartphone app. You can also get assistance in person. Disaster Recovery Centers operate daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at three locations:
Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs. IHP assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet your basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.
The fastest way to apply is through DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply through the FEMA mobile app or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
IHP Assistance may include:
View the Applying for Assistance: Tip Sheet (PDF) for persons with disabilities. Before you start your FEMA application, have the information on the Disaster Survivor Application Checklist ready.
After you complete your application for assistance, you will receive a FEMA application number. Write down this number and keep it for future reference.
Also learn more about the steps after applying here.
I Applied for Assistance. What's Next?
Visit our Individuals and Households Program page to learn more or go to DisasterAssistance.gov to apply for disaster assistance.
FEMA is committed to providing equal access to disaster recovery resources and assistance. Let FEMA know if you or anyone in your household has a disability or language need.
If you have insurance, you should file a claim with your insurance company immediately. FEMA assistance cannot help with losses already covered by insurance.
Once you have fiilled out the form, an HHFDC representative will contact you to confirm your information and your participation. Due to the large influx of homeowner support requests, it may take us a few days to get back to you. We ask for your patience as we are working hard to process hundreds of applicants we have received. Once we have spoken with you and your information has been verified, we will release the information on our website’s list of available housing inventory.
Governor Josh Green, M.D. and the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) have launched the Hawaiʻi Fire Relief Housing Program. The goal of the program is to connect those in urgent need of housing due to the Maui fires, with Hawaiʻi homeowners willing to assist by offering unoccupied rooms, units or houses on a temporary basis. “We are asking folks in the community to rent out those extra rooms, the ‘ohana units or accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in their homes, vacation rentals, or whatever safe and secure rooms they have available,” Governor Green said.
Further details about the HHFDC Hawaiʻi Fire Relief Housing Program can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section here: HHFDC-Fire-Relief-Housing-FAQ.
HHFDC thanks the Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS® for making its Standard Form Rental Agreement available to property owners and landlords free of cost through a license agreement with HHFDC. Use of the Standard Form Rental Agreement by property owners and landlords is subject to the Standard Form Rental Agreement End User License Agreement.
On August 23, the State Department of Human Services announced an additional 250 Air BnB units are available to displaced residents or families on Maui for 21-day stays. Go to Lahaina Gateway Center (325 Keawe St, Lahaina), Tuesday thru Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to pre-register.
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.
The Maui Wildfire Recovery Program is a dynamic program that focuses on addressing both the immediate and long-term needs of those affected by the Lahaina fires. The Maui Wildfire Recovery Program is a comprehensive initiative of non-profit Regenerative Education Centers (REC) dedicated to recovery efforts for the Lahaina Maui Fire and all those affected.
Our mission is to provide immediate and long term relief, regenerative solutions, and sustainable support to individuals and families impacted by this devastating tragedy. Together, we are working towards a brighter, more resilient future for our community. Regenerative Education Centers is raising funds to purchase RVs and tiny homes for those who lost their homes in the fire. We are working with several entities to find land that victims can have temporary least-hold to park their RV/tiny home on only until it is safe to park on their own property for rebuild.
We have raised our fundraising goal to $3.5M because we started with the goal of providing 20 homes for those most in need of support, but because amazing people are stepping up it has led us to reach higher make our goal to build 200 houses to *give away* to our community so that we can help keep as many people possible here — because they are a Lahaina.
We want those who were displaced to live with dignity and rebuild your home in Lahaina. We already have 25+ units purchased or being donated to this project, and we are trying to get as many of these as possible, so every displaced family can stay on Maui and be self-sufficient whether property owner or renters.
Click here for the Maui Wildfire Recovery Off-Grid Tiny Home Application
Family Life Center in partnership with multiple organizations across the community are working to construct a midterm housing solution, ‘Ohana Hope Village.
Family Life Center selected Continest as the provider for the main living area for the homes due to their high-quality materials, advanced safety features, and flexibility. Multiple units can be combined to create larger living spaces and each unit can be set up in 3-5 minutes. In addition to the living space, private bathrooms, kitchens, and screened lanai’s will be sourced and assembled locally.
Click here for the Family Life Centerʻs Disaster Relief Intake form
In the aftermath of the Maui Wildfires of 2023, every helping hand and generous heart can make a lasting impact. Join us in rebuilding and supporting our community.
Get involved today:
Governor Josh Green, M.D. and the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) have launched the Hawaiʻi Fire Relief Housing Program. The goal of the program is to connect those in urgent need of housing due to the Maui fires, with Hawaiʻi homeowners willing to assist by offering unoccupied rooms, units or houses on a temporary basis.
For Displaced Residents in Need of Housing
If you have been displaced or have been left houseless as a result of the wildfires, please fill out the Resident in Need of Housing Form. An HHFDC representative will then contact you to confirm and verify your information and try to connect you with the landlord of an available unit that meets your needs.
List of Available Housing Inventory
A listing of available inventory will be posted here every day at approximately 9:00am and 3:00pm Hawaii Standard Time. If you are in need, please contact the homeowners directly.
Need More Information? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Got more questions? Please email HHFDC at hhfdcfirereliefhousing@hawaii.gov or call 808-587-0469.
Our staff is available 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. HST, Monday - Friday.
For those DISPLACED UPCOUNTRY:
Upcountry Strong Housing & Support Towards Recovery Form
We made this form in order to support Upcountry residents who have lost their homes or are currently displaced, and to help towards recovery. Please feel free to fill it out or reach out if you need any help - happy to assist in person or over the phone.
If you have limited access to a phone or computer at the moment, or are just feeling overwhelmed, we are also happy to help via text. Contact Alicia at 925-338-1505.
Visit our website for updated resources for those Upcountry in need of housing and those of you offering. Upcountry Strong has created fillable forms if you don't want to talk to a human directly.
This program is in partnership with AIA Maui and Kokku, Inc.
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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