The Maui News

Maui Economic Opportunity is still accepting applications for the Hawaii Emergency Laulima Partnership (HELP) program, which provides financial assistance for Maui County residents who’ve suffered a layoff, reduction in hours or loss of income related to COVID-19.

The financial assistance may be used for food, personal hygiene, medicine, rent, mortgage, utility payments, phone or internet service, car payments and other essential needs, according to a news release Thursday from MEO.

Per the program requirements:

• Only one individual per household may receive assistance.

• A qualified individual shall not possess more than $5,000 in liquid assets.

• A household shall be designated based on most current tax filing.

• A household shall not apply for assistance more than once in a 30-day period and shall not receive assistance more than a total of three times, or until all funds have been obligated, whichever occurs first.

Maximum assistance in a 30-day period is up to $500 for a family of one to two, up to $750 for a family of three to four, up to $1,000 for a family of five to six and up to $1,250 for a family of seven or more.

Residents must submit a completed application, copy of photo ID, proof of layoff or reduction in hours (copy of unemployment insurance filing or letter from employer), the first page of their most recent tax filing and a copy of their most recent bank and savings statement.

Applications can be submitted online or at one of the secured dropboxes located at the front parking lot of MEO at 99 Mahalani Street in Wailuku or at the front entrance of the Kalana O Maui county building in Wailuku. Molokai and Lanai community members can submit applications online or at their local MEO office at 380 Kolapa Place in Kaunakakai or 1144 Ilima #102 in Lanai City.

Through June 30, MEO received 5,690 applications and approved 4,361, for a total of $1.9 million in financial assistance, Maui County said in a news release Sunday. The county has now allocated $5 million in general funds for the HELP program, up from the initial $2 million when the program was launched. Through the end of June, the program provided assistance to 11,775 individuals.

For more information or to apply online, go to meoinc.org and click on the “HELP” link.

Individuals without internet access may call 249-2990 or 249-2980 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.