HUD Announces Funding to Support People Experiencing Homelessness in Maui through Rapid Response Program

Grant will be awarded to state of Hawaii consisting of $1.3 million to help communities in Maui in wake of the wildfires.

WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $1.3 Million to the state of Hawai’i to support people experiencing homelessness – those living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing, or a place not meant for human habitation – and people at risk of homelessness through the department’s Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) program. This funding is awarded to help communities in Maui in the wake of the wildfires.

While FEMA, the Red Cross and local community members have stepped up to assist survivors, the severity of the damage and displacement experienced in Lāhainā and Upcountry Maui has exceeded local sheltering capacity and more assistance is needed. RUSH funding is responding to the surge in shelter needs to assist the community in addressing homelessness that could be exacerbated by the disaster. The funding HUD is making available in this announcement will help ensure that most people experiencing homelessness are not forgotten.

“Before the wildfires, Hawai’i already had a housing crisis – one that disproportionally impacts Native Hawaiians. HUD is closely monitoring the impact of this disaster on local housing needs, and this funding will fill the gap to ensure the state of Hawai’i has what it needs to support people experiencing homelessness,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “HUD is invested in supporting Maui's recovery and will continue to work with local officials to support the path forward.”

The eligible activities for this funding include:

1. For people currently experiencing homelessness: emergency shelter; rapid re-housing, which provides up to 24 months of rental assistance, financial assistance for move in costs, and supportive services; and
2. For people who are at-risk of experiencing homelessness: homelessness prevention, which provides up to 24 months of rental assistance, utility assistance, and supportive services for people at risk of homelessness; and outreach assistance, including assistance to meet urgent needs.

RUSH funding is available to help communities provide outreach, emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, and other assistance to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are in a disaster-affected area but cannot access all services provided by FEMA programs. HUD is providing this allocations due to FEMA activation of Transitional Sheltering Assistance, which is done in disasters where there is a high level of displacement.

RUSH will fill gaps in federal disaster assistance for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. People experiencing pre-disaster homelessness have very limited eligibility for FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA).