Rental assistance available for those impacted by major May West Hawaiʻi earthquake
Hawaiʻi County residents impacted by the South Kona earthquake May 22 — which struck about 8 miles south of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo — could be eligible for rental assistance.
Those whose primary home is unsafe to live in because of damage caused by the quake can apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance to help pay for alternate temporary housing. The agency will work closely with households to understand their temporary housing needs and provide assistance.
Deadline to apply for federal assistance is Nov. 1.
Homeowners and renters should contact Federal Emergency Management Agency to request rental assistance and update their application or create one if they haven’t already.
This can be done in any of the following ways:
- Visiting federal disaster assistance website.
- Visiting a community resource center. Dates, times and locations can be found online.
- Calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
- Sending your request via mail to Federal Emergency Management Agency, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, Md., 20782-8055.
The agency is required to conduct a home inspection to verify damage reported on an application prior to awarding rental assistance.
An initial award of up to 2 months rent will be provided if approved.
Applicants could be eligible for additional rental assistance beyond the initial period and should keep in touch with Federal Emergency Management Agency about housing needs.
