Mayor Richard Bissen puts pen to paper as eight families recently signed documents to secure their shopping letters through the county’s First-Time Home Buyer Program for wildfire survivors. Photo courtesy Maui County

Eight families that survived the 2023 Maui wildfires have received their First-Time Homebuyer Opportunity Program shopping letters, allowing them to begin looking for homes within their approved price range.

Five of the families gathered at the Kākoʻo Maui Relief & Aid Services Center in Kahului on Monday to sign the letters. Three others recently received the documents as well.

“Today marks an important step for our community, as eight families begin their pathway to homeownership as first-time buyers following the 2023 wildfires,” Mayor Richard Bissen said in a statement. “Thanks to the incredible work of our county Office of Recovery and CDBG-DR program, we’ve developed innovative pathways like Hoʻokumu Hou to connect survivors with real resources and help them secure a place to call home. Seeing these families take this step brings a deep sense of gratitude and hope for all of us.”

Now that the families have their shopping letters, they have six months to secure a home that meets program guidelines, and Hoʻokumu Hou program specialists will continue to support applicants through this process.

Although First-Time Homebuyer Opportunity Program applications are no longer being accepted, program specialists continue to review applications. Each application is sorted by priority phase:

• Phase I: Households whose primary residence on Aug. 8, 2023, was within the burn zone and whose annual income is equal to or less than 80% Area Median Income.

• Phase II: Households within the burn zone with income between 80% and 120% AMI.

• Phase III: Households outside the burn zone with income equal to or less than 80% AMI.

• Phase IV: Remaining applicants with verified eligibility once prior phases have been served.

Within each priority phase, applications are reviewed and awarded on a first come, first ready basis, meaning that applications advance as soon as they are complete and verified.

A “first ready” date is recorded once all required documentation is submitted, securing each applicant’s place in the queue.

The county has taken this approach in an effort to make sure assistance is distributed equitably while prioritizing those most impacted by the fires.

As more applicants become “first-ready,” the county anticipates a steady increase in shopping letters issued through the end of this year and into 2026.

Hoʻokumu Hou offers Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding to individuals and families who meet eligibility criteria, including income limits and loss of property during the 2023 Maui wildfires.

Hoʻokumu Hou continues to accept applications for its Single-Family Homeowner Reimbursement and Reconstruction programs.

For more information, go to https://hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov/.