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About 910 Maui County households will receive monthly payments for a year through a new pilot program intended to help residents who work but struggle to cover basic expenses.
Maui United Way will begin accepting applications in mid-October for the county-funded Kamaʻāina Credit for ALICE Households Pilot Program. Selected households of one to three people will receive $500 a month for 12 months. Households of four or more will receive $800 a month.
"This pilot recognizes that financial security is about more than being employed; it is about giving working families greater opportunity to build a future here," Mayor Richard Bissen said in a news release.
ALICE stands for "Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed." It describes households that earn above the federal poverty level but still cannot consistently afford basic necessities. Some earn too much to qualify for traditional public assistance.
According to Aloha United Way, 53% of Maui County households were below the ALICE Threshold in 2024. That includes 43% classified as ALICE and 10% living in poverty. The share classified as ALICE rose nine percentage points from 2022 to 2024.
"When more than half of Maui County households are struggling to meet the basic cost of living, we have to pay attention," said Jeeyun Lee, CEO, Maui United Way. "These are working people across our community -- supporting our schools, caring for our kūpuna, serving our visitors, managing our stores, working in county departments and nonprofit organizations, and contributing in countless ways to the strength of our county. When the people who keep our communities running can no longer afford to stay, the impact reaches all of us."
The county secured funding for the pilot program with help from Maui County Council member Gabe Johnson, who holds the residency seat for Lanai.
"In a time when the cost of living keeps rising for our hard working families we need to find ways to support them," he said. "These funds are important to help people's lives get better. As a councilmember I am proud to have initiated this program which was supported by my fellow council members and the mayor. I want to thank Maui United Way who has been an important partner in reaching out to our ALICE population and all the work they do to support our
community, especially after the fires and floods."
Maui United Way will oversee the county grant and approve the program's eligibility and selection criteria. AidKit will administer applications, verify eligibility and conduct a computer-generated selection designed to represent different household and community-need groups.
The program is not first-come, first-served, and qualifying does not guarantee a payment.
Applicants must be at least 21, live full time in Maui County and meet the program's income and other eligibility requirements. Residents of Maui, Molokai and Lanai may apply. The free online application will be offered in English, Spanish, Ilocano, Tagalog and Marshallese, with audio support and additional assistance available.
Another 400 eligible households will be randomly selected for a comparison group. They will not receive monthly payments but will be invited to complete short surveys and receive cash gift cards for participating. Maui United Way will use feedback from both groups to assess how financial support affects household stability and where gaps in existing services remain.
Households receiving payments also will be able to get help connecting with community resources based on their needs.
Applications are expected to open in mid-October at muwalicecredit.aidkit.org/o/home, where eligibility details and answers to frequently asked questions will be posted. Applicants who need assistance may email support@muwalicecredit.aidkit.org.