Hawaii to Receive Nearly $14 Million in Federal Funding to Help Residents With Rent, Utilities

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allocate an additional $13.9 million under the American Rescue Plan to help prevent evictions and provide relief for Hawaii renters who are struggling to pay their bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $13.9 million in federal funding will include $1.8 million for the County of Hawaii and $12 million for the City and County of Honolulu.

The new American Rescue plan funding will be allocated through the Emergency Rental Assistance program.

To qualify for the assistance program, renter household should have an income of no more than 80% of the area median income who meet the following criteria:

– One or more individual in the household qualified for unemployment benefits or has experience a reduction in household income
– One or more individual in the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability which includes past due utility, home energy or rent/eviction notice; or live in an unsafe or unhealthy conditions.

To learn more about the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, visit www.schatz.senate.gov/coronavirus/renters-homeowners.