Coronavirus Rent Assistance
Rent Relief and Housing Assistance Program
Do you need rent assistance? The State of Hawai‘i’s Rent Relief and Housing Assistance Program provides assistance to Hawai‘i renters and homeowners who have experienced a reduction in income due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk of eviction or foreclosure. The program provides help with housing payments as well as assistance in financial counseling and loan modification. Funded by the Federal CARES Act, the program is administered by Catholic Charities Hawai‘i. The program covers housing payments due between August 1 and December 28, 2020. Applications are due by December 15, 2020.
Eligibility
Full-time Hawai‘i residents with a valid and current lease agreement for their primary residence or who own and occupy a housing unit in Hawai‘i must show a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have a gross household income that does not exceed 100% of the HUD Area Median Income for 2020 (see below).
For Eligible Renters
- Monthly rent payments of up to $2,000 per household residing in the City and County of Honolulu, or $1,500 per household residing in the Counties of Hawai‘i, Maui or Kaua‘i.
- Any applicable financial counseling and assistance with rent payment plans or rent negotiation.
For Eligible Homeowners
- Financial and housing counseling services, which include budgeting and foreclosure mitigation.
2020 INCOME LIMITS FOR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING100 PERCENT AREA MEDIAN INCOME
Household
Size |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| Honolulu |
$88,000 |
$100,800 |
$113,400 |
$125,900 |
$136,000 |
$146,100 |
$156,200 |
$166,200 |
$176,300 |
$186,400 |
| Hawaii |
58,400 |
66,700 |
75,000 |
83,300 |
90,000 |
96,700 |
103,300 |
110,000 |
116,700 |
123,300 |
| Kauai |
68,000 |
77,700 |
87,400 |
97,100 |
104,900 |
112,700 |
120,500 |
128,200 |
136,000 |
143,800 |
| Maui |
71,800 |
82,000 |
92,300 |
102,500 |
110,700 |
118,900 |
127,100 |
135,300 |
143,500 |
151,700 |
Direct Payment (August 1 – December 28, 2020)
Monthly rent payments of up to $2,000 per household on O‘ahu, or $1,500 per household in the Counties of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i or Maui, will be made directly to the landlord. The program may also provide financial and housing counseling services, including budgeting and loan modifications.
Rent payments can be made in lump sum amounts for up to three months at a time.
The program covers housing payments due between August 1 and December 28, 2020. Applications are due by December 15, 2020.
How to Apply
Applications are due by December 15, 2020.
To apply for the Rent Relief and Housing Assistance Program, fill out the application form online.
Apply Online
PDF applications along with required documents may also be submitted via email. Follow the instructions provided on the applications.
Download PDF Application
FAQs
What types of rental properties are eligible for assistance?
Properties with proof of valid and current tenancy are eligible.
Do I qualify if I currently reside in government-funded housing?
Households that receive federal or state rent subsidies (where a percentage of the rent is paid by the household and the balance is subsidized by government) are not eligible.
How do I establish my household’s eligibility for this program?
Eligibility includes being a full-time Hawaii resident occupying a primary residence with a current and valid tenancy in the State of Hawaii; being 18 years of age or older; demonstrating a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and having a total household income that does not exceed 100% of the HUD Area Median Income limits for 2020.
What income is included when determining my household income?
All income from all household members is included.
Do I qualify if I received or am receiving rent relief assistance through another program?
Households may qualify for rent relief assistance even if they receive assistance from another source, provided the total amount of assistance does not exceed the actual rent. However, households that receive rent assistance under the HUD Emergency Solutions Grant program are ineligible for the State’s Rent Relief Program.
If I received unemployment benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, does that count towards my income for this program?
Yes. However, SNAP (food stamps) is not included as income.
Do I need to claim eligible immigration status to apply for this program?
No.
What other services other than rent can I receive from this program?
The program may also provide financial and housing counseling services.
My household is a mixed-immigration status household. I do not claim eligible immigration status, but my child does. Can we still apply?
Yes.
Can I apply if I live with roommates?
You and your roommates may apply for assistance as a household. If one or more household members (roommates) are eligible for assistance, but all members on the lease do not apply or are ineligible for assistance, the rental assistance will be prorated.
What if I’m ineligible but am at risk of losing my tenancy for other reasons?
Please visit our Housing and Homeless Solutions Program for additional resources.
If I don’t have a lease but am a month-to-month tenant am I still eligible to receive assistance?
Yes, if your lease has expired but you continue to occupy your rental on a month-to-month basis, this is considered a valid and current tenancy.
What documents do I need to provide in order to apply?
The required documents are listed on the application.
In what languages is the application available?
Interpretation services will be provided for households needing assistance.
When is the deadline?
The Catholic Charities Hawaii application deadline is December 15, 2020. The current funding expires on December 28, 2020 and will not be available after that.
Who is processing my application?
You can select a provider from the list that will be a part of the application.
How are you prioritizing applicants?
Applications will be reviewed and approved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Will I be notified if I am deemed ineligible for assistance?
Yes, you will be notified if you are ineligible and the reason will be provided.
What file types can we upload?
PDF or JPEG files can be submitted. If a document is unclear, the agency will contact you to resubmit the information.
If my application is pending, can I be protected from eviction or foreclosure?
Yes, if you are within the period of the eviction moratorium.
If I’m eligible, what assistance will I receive?
You can receive your actual rent amount up to a maximum of $2,000 per month on Oahu and up to a maximum of $1,500 per month on the neighbor islands. On initial application you may receive three months of rent.
Is there a maximum amount of assistance I can receive?
Yes, your actual rent or $2,000 per month on Oahu and $1,500 per month on the neighbor islands for payments due from August to December 2020.
How will I receive the assistance?
Applicants will not receive payments. The assistance will be paid directly to your landlord who will receive a check or direct deposit using electric fund transfer (EFT).
How soon can I expect to receive assistance?
Once a complete application is approved, the payment will be disbursed to your landlord within five business days.
How will this information be used or shared?
Your sensitive information will be protected at all times and coded to ensure duplicate payments are not made.
Do I need to continue to pay my rent?
You will be responsible for any portion of your rent that exceeds the $2,000/month payment limit on Oahu or $1,500/month payment limit on the neighbor islands.
Will the rent relief be counted as income on my landlord’s income tax?
Yes.
Does my landlord have to accept the benefit?
No.
Will I need to report any funds received from this program as income?
No.
Do I have to tell my landlord that I applied for this program?
You may have to provide some landlord information depending on whether your landlord is also the property owner. In this case, landlord involvement would be required.
Can a landlord apply on behalf of their tenant(s)?
No.
Am I required to pay back the assistance?
No.
I have been selected to receive assistance. How will I know whether my landlord has received the benefit on my behalf?
Both you and your landlord will receive notification that the payment has been made.
I was notified that the assistance was paid to my landlord. My landlord now claims that they never received assistance and is seeking to have me evicted. What should I do?
Please contact the organization that processed your application to verify that the check/EFT was directed to the correct address or account.
