Trending
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Maui wildfire survivors participating in the agency's Direct Housing Program should be getting their first rental bill on March 1 and they will have 30 days to pay it.
FEMA officials said the deadline to appeal the decision on the rental amount is March 11, 2025. FEMA Direct Housing assistance currently includes housing FEMA leases for survivors in modular housing, also known as alternative transportable temporary housing units, at the Kilohana Temporary Group Housing Site, along with primary and secondary sites.
Kilohana consists of 167 modular units on 20 acres of state-owned property in Lahaina. Some 156 are occupied. For information on making an appeal, call FEMA at (808) 784-1600.
Households are encouraged to speak to their recertification advisor if they have any questions on the appeal process and what documentation is needed.
According to FEMA, if someone receives a letter from FEMA saying they are ineligible for assistance, they should not panic. The application may have stopped processing because something was missing, and this could be an opportunity to appeal FEMA's decision. An appeal is a written request to FEMA to review a specific application for disaster assistance.
Applicants have 60 days from the date on their determination letter to appeal a FEMA decision.
In-person support services for appeals are provided at the Maui County's Office of Recovery at the Lahaina Gateway and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement office at Kāko’o Maui Relief and Aid Services Center, 153 E. Kamehameha Ave., Suite 101 in Kahului. The Resource Hub is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 for case inquiries and answers to questions.
The Disaster Case Management Program helps assess and address needs through a disaster recovery plan, which includes resources, decision-making priorities and guidance to help survivors.
Disaster Case Management services are available at no cost to Maui wildfire survivors. Any survivor who was affected by the wildfires, regardless of FEMA eligibility or other federal assistance, may request help from specially trained disaster case managers. The managers help to develop a recovery plan.
To access the DCMP, call 211 and press "4" to get started and enroll today. DCMP enrollment from the mainland, call (808) ASK-2000.
In addition to FEMA help, there is the Maui Relief Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program. It's managed by the state Department of Human Services and Maui Economic Opportunity, offering cash assistance to families affected by the wildfires.
Eligible families must have at least one child under age 18 and must have experienced property loss or damage, and a reduction of earnings or employment as a direct result of the fires. The program also offers four months of support for long-term rentals. To apply, call (808) 243-4404, email NRST@meoinc.org or visit MEOinc.org.