American Red Cross Financial Assistance

Emergency Lodging:

The state of Hawaii, FEMA, and Red Cross have jointly announced that Friday, September 15, 2023, at 5:00 PM is the deadline to register for emergency lodging. Eligible households who have not yet contacted the Red Cross and still need a safe place to stay, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Financial Assistance:

The American Red Cross is offering financial assistance to Maui wildfire survivors whose primary home was destroyed or is unlivable due to the Maui wildfires. If your home was destroyed or is unlivable due to the wildfires, you may get an invitation to complete an application directly from the Red Cross through an email, text message, or phone call. This is not a SCAM! Please respond to the message so you can get this help. If you have not heard from the Red Cross and believe you have qualifying damage, go to redcross.org/hihelp to make an appointment to meet with the Red Cross in person, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

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FEMA Disaster Assistance

‍U.S. President Joe Biden on Aug. 10, 2023, declared a major disaster for the State of Hawai’i as a result of wildfires that started Aug. 8, 2023. Survivors may be eligible to receive assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses resulting from the Hawai’i wildfires. If you have homeowners or renters insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance. Disaster assistance may include financial help with temporary lodging and home repairs, as well as other disaster-related expenses.

Applicants can visit the website or also call the FEMA Helpline at 1 (800) 621-3362. The helpline, which has language translation services, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no cost for Hawai’i residents to call. If you use video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. When applying for assistance, have the following information ready:

• A current phone number where you can be contacted
• Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are not staying
• Your Social Security number
• A general list of damage and losses
• Banking information if you choose direct deposit
• If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name
  
  

For video on how to apply for assistance, visit here.

For information specific to Maui Wildfires Disaster recovery, visit FEMA here.
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SBA Disaster Loans

U.S. President Joe Biden approved the availability of Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans for homeowners, businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by the Maui wildfires. These loans can help individuals and organizations repair or replace disaster-damaged property, inventory and supplies. Homeowners and renters may also use SBA loans to repair or replace disaster-related damage to homes or personal property.

Types of Loans:

• Home and Personal Property Loans: Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence. Renters and homeowners may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property (such as clothing, furniture, vehicles and appliances) damaged or destroyed in a disaster.  
• Business Physical Disaster Loans: Businesses of any size and most private nonprofit organizations may apply for loans of up to $2 million to repair or replace real property, machinery, equipment, fixtures, inventory or leasehold improvements.  
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofit organizations can borrow up to $2 million to meet their obligations and pay their ordinary and necessary operating expenses if they are otherwise unable to do so.  
• Military Reservists Economic Injury Loans: Eligible small businesses can borrow up to $2 million to help meet ordinary and necessary operating expenses that it could have met but is unable to because an essential employee was called to active duty as a military reservist.  
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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF) with the Hawai’i Department of Human Services - Benefit, Employment and Support Services

Financial Assistance Benefits for Families with Children

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. Visit the program website for more information and to apply.

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Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Benefits

Workers, business owners and self-employed individuals who were living or working in the affected area at the time of the major disaster and became unemployed or had their work hours reduced or interrupted as a direct result of the major disaster and do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance may be eligible for DUA benefits beginning the week of Aug. 13, 2023, until the week ending Feb. 10, 2024, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: All individuals who believe they qualify for DUA should apply as soon as possible. The deadline for filing DUA is 30 days after the date of this announcement; therefore, DUA applications must be submitted no later than Sept. 25, 2023 (but please check DUA website in case this changes). Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered untimely, and DUA benefits may be denied unless the individual provides good cause for late filing.

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Business Recovery Center in Kihei

This center assists business owners impacted by the Maui wildfires with federal Small Business Administration (SBA) recovery programs and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

SBA customer service representatives will be available to meet individually with each business owner. Information and details on the location of future business recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 1 (800) 659-2955.

Hawaii Technology Development Corporation
Maui Research Technology Center
Building #A, Ste. 119 (Conference Room)

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Technical Financial Recovery Disaster Assistance from Project Restore HOPE Maui – Operation HOPE

Certified coaches that can guide survivors 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
• Disaster recovery budget
• Home inspections and repair contracts
• Foreclosure prevention

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agencies Support

‍USDA offers a variety of programs to help farmers, ranchers, communities and businesses that have been hard hit by natural disaster events.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers numerous disaster assistance programs to cover crop and livestock losses, address farmland damage and cover production and physical losses. For more information, individuals should visit the FSA’s Disaster Assistance Programs webpage and use FSA’s Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool.

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USDA Wildfire Recovery Resources

‍Has your agricultural operation been impacted by wildfire? USDA offers programs that can help with wildfire recovery, as well as those that can help you manage risk on your operation. This program provides assistance for trees, bushes or vines not covered by the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program or crop insurance.

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Unemployment Insurance (UI) Call Center‍

‍The enhanced Unemployment Insurance (UI) Call Center expanded to include an option for those affected by the Maui Wildfires. Individuals can reach the call center at 1 (808) 984-8400.  Claims can also be filed online.

When individuals contact the UI Call Center, they will be presented with the option to select desired language and then an option to file a claim. The first option is Option Zero, which is for those affected by the Maui wildfires. Individuals can choose “0” to reach a UI employee who will assist them with filing their unemployment insurance claim via phone.

DBEDT HHFDC Hawai‘i Fire Relief Housing Program

State of Hawai’i Gov. Josh Green and the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corp. (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, go to the website to 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.