As of December 1, 2026, all applicable Direct Housing households will be charged 75% of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rent.

If the household does not wish to pay the new monthly rent, they may submit an appeal by the deadline in the rent increase notification letter or move out of the FEMA unit by November 30, 2026. Households awaiting a final decision on their rental rate are required to pay the full rent amount until an appeal decision is made. Once the decision is made, FEMA will refund the difference if applicable.

The HUD Fair Market Rental Rates for Maui County per number of bedrooms are listed below. Beginning December 1, 2026, Direct Housing participants will be charged 75% of these rates.

The rent may continue to increase during the extension period. Prior to any additional increase, FEMA will notify the household at least 30 days before the new rental amount takes effect.

Households receive their rent statements at their current mailing address and can obtain their billing statements by signing into their FEMA account online and checking under current communications. It is the responsibility of the household to ensure their current mailing address on file with FEMA is accurate.

Survivors in Direct Housing can pay their rent over the phone or through electronic payment methods. For detailed payment instructions, please refer to the “How to Pay FEMA” page on FEMA.gov: https://www.fema.gov/about/payment  

Rent must be paid within 30 days from the 1st of every month.

Late rent payments may result in penalty fees and loss of housing eligibility.

If the household has secured permanent housing or would like to leave their FEMA unit for another reason, they should notify their Recertification Advisor. If they vacate the unit by the end of the month, they are not responsible for the following month’s rent. FEMA does not prorate monthly rent. If they move out of their FEMA unit at any point during the month, they are responsible for the full amount of the rent for that month.

Households should call FEMA Finance at 866-804-2469, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST (EST is currently six hours ahead of Hawaiʻi time) or email FEMA-Finance-AccountsReceivable-Deposits@FEMA.dhs.gov. If you use video relay service, captioned service, or other communication services, please provide FEMA with the specific number assigned for that service.

The 60-day rent increase notification letter will include information on how to appeal and request a lower rental amount. Submitting an appeal does not guarantee it will be granted.

Households have 60 days from the date of the rent increase notification letter to submit an appeal for a rent reduction. FEMA strongly encourages households to submit their appeal as soon as possible to allow adequate time for processing before the December 1, 2026 rent adjustment date. Delays in submitting appeal paperwork or submitting an appeal with missing documentation may result in a longer decision process. Households awaiting a final determination on their rental rate must continue to pay the full rent amount that month until a decision is reached.

To submit an appeal, households must explain in writing why they cannot afford the stated rent and attach documents supporting their case.

In their appeal letter, households should detail their income and expenses, including their mortgage, property taxes, homeowners/renters insurance, and utilities such as electric, water and gas.

Examples of acceptable documents:

• Federal W-2 forms (or current pay stubs) for all occupants over the age of 18.
• A record of a current mortgage payment or rental agreement.
• A copy of a current property tax bill or canceled check.
• A copy of current insurance policy invoice or canceled check.
• A copy of recent invoices or canceled checks for utility payments.

Without submitting relevant documentation with their appeal by the deadline, occupants cannot be considered for reduced rent.

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Households awaiting a final decision on their rental rate are required to pay the full rent amount until an appeal decision is made. Once the decision is made, FEMA will refund the difference, if applicable.

Direct Housing households are encouraged to talk to their Recertification Advisor if they have any questions on the appeal process and what documentation is needed to be considered for rent reduction.

State of Hawai’i Interim Housing Program (HIHP)

The Hawai‘i Interim Housing Program (HIHP) is no longer accepting new applications as of December 15, 2024, and open applications needed to be submitted by January 15, 2025.  Applicants who can demonstrate they were unable to meet the application closure date due to circumstances beyond their control may request to submit a late application. Late applications can be requested through March 17, 2025 by calling the HIHP Contact Center at 808-727-1550.

Please note that those who applied for HIHP prior to the closure of applications are not guaranteed placement in a unit. Please refer to the program’s website for more information.

The Hawai‘i Interim Housing Program (HIHP) assists those displaced by the Maui wildfires by placing survivor households in temporary state-sponsored housing.  

HIHP is administered by the Hawai‘i Office of Recovery and Resiliency (HORR) in collaboration with the State of Hawai’i’s Department of Human Services (DHS) and Hawai’i Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC).  

HIHP includes all State of Hawai‘i interim housing sites related to Maui wildfire recovery, including Hale ‘O Lā‛ie, formerly the Haggai Institute in Kihei, and Ka La’i Ola in West Maui, north of Lahaina.  

Eligibility Requirements

You may be eligible for HIHP if:  

• You resided in Maui County prior to the disaster.  
• You are displaced from your permanent residence due to the Maui Wildfires, or  
• You faced disaster-related unemployment that resulted in the loss of your home.

If you are not sure if you are eligible for HIHP, you are still encouraged to apply.

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