HUD awarded $1.3 million to the State of Hawaii on August 23 to support people experiencing homelessness and people at risk of homelessness through the Department’s Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) program. The funding was provided to help communities in Maui in the wake of recent catastrophic wildfires and was facilitated by FEMA’s activation of Transitional Sheltering Assistance.
Hawaii has long had a shortage of housing, but the disaster-induced surge in shelter needs has exceeded local capacity in the town of Lahaina and in Maui. FEMA, the Red Cross, and local community members are already assisting survivors, but RUSH funding will fill gaps in federal disaster assistance. The grant is available to help communities provide outreach, emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, and other assistance to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are in disaster-affected areas.
“Before the wildfires, Hawai’i already had a housing crisis – one that disproportionately impacts Native Hawaiians,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “HUD is closely monitoring the impact of this disaster on local housing needs, and this funding will fill the gap to ensure the State of Hawai’i has what it needs to support people experiencing homelessness. HUD is invested in supporting Maui’s recovery and will continue to work with local officials to support the path forward.”
Read a press release on the award at: https://bit.ly/3sJBlXJ