For people in Hawaii having a hard time affording their rent, there's some good news. The government is making it easier for families to get help with their housing costs.
This is happening because several areas in Hawaii are opening up waiting lists for Section 8 Housing at the same time. This is a big deal because it means more people can get assistance with their rent, thanks to extra money from the federal government.
What's Happening with Housing Help in Hawaii?
Hawaii is known for its beautiful landscapes but living there can be very expensive. To help, the federal government is giving more money and support to Hawaii.
This means housing authorities can help more people and do it faster than they could before. It's a big step in making sure more families can afford a place to live.
Big News in Honolulu
If you live in Honolulu, you should know that the Housing Choice Voucher program just opened its waitlist. This happened on July 14 and stayed open until July 18. Thanks to an additional $10 million from the government, they're able to help more people right now.
The head of the Community Services Department in Honolulu shared that this program isn't just for the usual low-income housing. People can use these vouchers for different kinds of rental places, as long as the landlord agrees. This means renters only need to pay 30% of what they earn towards rent, and the voucher covers the rest.
The focus is on helping families that earn around 50% or less than the average income in Honolulu. Depending on the size of the family, this income limit starts at just over $50,000 for a single person and goes up from there. There's no rush to apply first, as the program will select around 3,000 households to help by mid-August.
Hawaii County is Also Expanding Help
Starting August 1, Hawaii County will open its Housing Choice Voucher waitlist and it'll stay open until they announce it's closed. This program is a bit different because it helps those who earn up to 80% of the median income, which means it covers a wider group of people.
Folks who qualify can choose safe and affordable places to live with the help of these vouchers. Everything you need to apply is online, and there's help for those who can't apply this way.
What You Need to Apply
For both programs, you'll need to gather some information like Social Security numbers for everyone in the household, how much money you all make, value of any property or assets, and work details.
They also need to know everyone's birthdays and some other personal information.
Getting Help with Applying
In Honolulu, they're offering help to apply in six different languages to make sure everyone who needs help can understand the process.
And for folks who don't have internet access, you can go to certain public offices or libraries for help.
More Money Means More Help for Families
The extra money from the federal government means Hawaii can help more families faster. This is especially important because rent is so high in Hawaii, and many families have been waiting a long time for help.
While not everyone who applies will get help right away, the chances are better now with more funds and a better system for processing applications.
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Check out: This State Opens Up Applications for Affordable Housing Program
