If you need help with rent in Hawaii, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve scoured tons of resource directories and websites to bring you a list of fact-checked, accurate assistance programs that can help you with your housing costs.
Statewide Help with Rent in Hawaii
There are a few programs that provide rental assistance throughout Hawaii. For the best programs, check your local area in the list below.
Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA)
This Emergency Rental Assistance program is Hawaii’s official COVID-19 rental assistance program. It can help people throughout Hawaii. ERAP is administered by the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii County, and other counties throughout the islands.
In order to be eligible, you need to have an income that is 80% or less of the Area Median Income. You must also have been financially impacted by the pandemic. This could mean that one or more of the people in your household have qualified for unemployment, experienced a reduction in income, had significantly increased costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the coronavirus outbreak. You must also have at least one person in your household who can demonstrate housing instability (such as a past due rent notice, eviction notice, utility notice, or unsafe/unhealthy living conditions).
The assistance from this program can be used to pay for past-due rent, future rent, past-due and future utilities, and other qualified housing expenses.
To apply for this program, you will need to contact your local county office from the list below.
Ka Wailele Emergency Financial Assistance Program
Native Hawaiians may be able to access grants of up to $1,500 to assist with past-due rent, mortgage, utilities and rental deposits. You must be able to prove Native Hawaiian ancestry, Hawai’i residency, financial hardship, and need for assistance. Native Hawaiians can receive assistance from this grant program once every two years. You can apply online at the OHA website.
Section 8 Housing Assistance
The Section 8 Housing Choice voucher program does not provide emergency help with rent in Hawaii but it can help you with long-term housing costs if you are eligible. The program helps pay a portion of your rent on an ongoing basis but often has a long waitlist.
To learn more about Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, contact your local PHA. The PHAs are the County of Kaua’i Housing Agency, the Department of Community Services in Honolulu County, the Housing Division in Maui County, or the Office of Housing and Community Development in Hawaii County.
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Rent Relief Program
Native Hawaiians who experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be able to receive assistance with rent through this program. The program offers up to 12 months of rent assistance and utilities. Learn more about the DHHL program here.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army often offers help with rent in Hawaii, as well as food and utility assistance. For example, the Kahului Corps states on their website that they offer these services. The corps that serve other locations often offer those services but don’t list them so prominently on their website, so it’s always a good idea to reach out to the Salvation Army for help with rent.
Nationwide Rental Assistance Programs
There are some programs that provide assistance with rent all over the United States! For even more ways to get help with your rent, check this list!
Local Help with Rent in Hawaii
There are also some local programs that assist people in certain areas with their rent.
Hawaii County
Hope Services Hawaii
Hope Services Hawaii is dedicated to ending homelessness on Hawaii Island. They provide financial assistance with rent, as well as case management for families who need it. They also have special programs for veterans and other supportive services as well.
Honolulu County
Hui ‘O Hau’ula
This program may offer rental and utility assistance to members of Ko’olauloa from Kahuku to Kualoa. Details here.
Institute of Human Services
The Institute of Human Services provides rent assistance, help with security deposits and utility deposits and more! They can even help furnish apartments, provide household goods and more.
Kalihi-Palama Health Center
The Health Center offers a Health Care for the Homeless Project. This project receives funding from HUD to operate a Shelter Plus Care program. Among other things, this program offers rental assistance for homeless individuals with disabilities who are receiving supportive case management services. You must be a client of Kalihi-Palama Health Center in order to receive assistance.
Waimānalo Health Center
The Health Center offers limited rental assistance to Windward residents who live between Kahuku (96731) and Waimānalo (96795) who are renting and at risk of eviction or have recently been homeless.
Maui County
The County of Maui Rental Assistance Program
This program helps people who live on Maui County with rental deposits, utility deposits and rent costs. It is income-dependent. To learn more about this, visit the Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. Housing Assistance program page.
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.