Hawaiʻi Interim Housing Program (HIHP) – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Pre-Eligibility FAQ

Q: What is HIHP?  

A: The Hawaiʻi Interim Housing Program (HIHP) assists those displaced by the Maui wildfires by placing survivor households in temporary state-sponsored housing. The program is administered by the Hawaiʻi Office of Recovery and Resiliency (HORR) in collaboration with the State of Hawaiʻi’s Department of Human Services (DHS) and Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC).  HIHP includes all State of Hawaiʻi interim housing sites related to DR-4724-HI Maui Wildfires recovery, including Hale ‘O Lā‛ie, formerly the Haggai Institute in Kīhei, and Ka Laʻi Ola in West Maui.  

 

Q: How do I apply?  

A: You can apply by visiting this page or calling 1-808-727-1550 and completing the questions for your household. You will be required to register an account online with a valid email address to receive program updates and to provide required documentation. If you do not have an email address, you may call our contact center at 1-808-727-1550 for them to help create one for you.  

If you have previously applied for assistance with FEMA or American Red Cross, some of your information may already be pre-populated in the application. Please review all information and complete any missing fields. When your application is complete, a member of the HIHP team will contact you to discuss the next steps.  

 

Q: Am I eligible for HIHP?  

A: You may be eligible for HIHP if: 

  • You lived in Maui County prior to the disaster.  
  • You are displaced from your residence due to the Maui Wildfires, or… 
  • You faced disaster-related unemployment that resulted in the loss of your home. 

 

Q: What documentation do I need to provide? 

A: Applicants to HIHP may be asked to provide the following documentation:  

  • Proof of identity. This documentation does NOT have to indicate citizenship status. 
  • Proof of pre-disaster residency within Maui County. 
  • Proof of income loss and inability to pay rent or mortgage. 
  • Documentation of any other assistance you may have received related to the Maui Fires. 

 

Q: Is application assistance available?  

A: Households who need help applying to HIHP, including those with limited English proficiency, can contact the Call Center at 1-808-727-1550 for assistance.  

 

Q: I have already received assistance related to the Maui Wildfires. Can I still apply?  

A: Households who received other assistance may still be eligible for HIHP and are encouraged to apply.  

 

Q: I was unhoused before the wildfires, am I eligible for HIHP? 

A: This program is for those displaced from their homes by the Maui Wildfires. Those experiencing homelessness can visit homelessness.hawaii.gov/help to get help. 

 

Q: Who is included in my household?  

A: We recognize that your household members may have changed following the wildfires. Your application should include all individuals you plan to live with if you are placed in an interim housing unit.  

 

Q: Are there income, demographic, or citizenship requirements for this program?  

A: Eligibility for HIHP is not assessed based on income, demographic makeup, or citizenship of household members.  

 

Q: Will I be paid directly from this program? 

A: No, HIHP does not make direct payments to survivor households.  

 

Q: What are my housing options if I am approved?  

A: HIHP has two housing sites, Hale ‘O Lāʻie, formerly the Haggai Institute, in Kihei, and Ka Laʻi Ola in West Maui.  More housing sites may be added to HIHP in the future. If approved for placement, a HIHP team member will work with you to match your household to an available housing solution that best meets your needs as units become available. The timeline for placement is dependent on unit availability.  

 

Q: If I am found eligible for HIHP, am I guaranteed a housing unit?  

A: Eligibility does not guarantee placement in an interim housing unit. Eligible applicants will be matched with interim housing units based on availability.  

 

Q: What will the program do with the personal information I provide?  

A: The information you provide will be utilized to evaluate your needs and eligibility. Your household data will not be sold. Applicant information may be shared with State and Federal agencies, their contractors, nonprofit organizations, and other partner agencies for the purpose of providing assistance related to the 2023 Maui Wildfire Disaster.   

 

Q: Will the program ask me for money?  

A: Applying to HIHP is completely free. Applicants placed in an interim housing unit will not be asked to contribute to rent or utility payments through August 2025.  

 

Q: Will I be required to sign up for the Disaster Case Management Program? 

A: Yes. Applicants to HIHP are required to sign up for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP). DCMP is a FEMA-funded effort that allows trained case managers to collaborate with disaster survivors to develop a disaster recovery plan and to work together to address the unmet needs described in the plan. Applicants who have applied to DCMP but have not yet been assigned a case manager will still be eligible for HIHP.  

 

 Q: How long can I remain in the interim housing provided to me?  

A: The length of your stay in an interim housing unit depends on several factors and will be assessed on an ongoing basis. 

 

Q: Are there housing units available for those with special needs? 

A: Many interim housing units can accommodate access and functional needs. Please describe your household’s specific requirements in your application so a HIHP team member can find the housing solution that best meets your needs.  

 

Q: Can I bring my pet(s)?  

A: Interim housing sites may be able to accommodate pets. Please describe your pets in the application so that a HIHP team member can match you to the interim housing unit that best meets your needs.  

 

Q: Do I need to pass a background check to be eligible? 

A: Yes, everyone in your household 18 and older must complete a background check to qualify for HIHP. Background check results will be assessed on an individual and household basis. 

 

Q: How do I sign up for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP)?

A: Survivors should contact 211 to begin the process and request follow up from a DCMP team member to conduct an intake discussion.