The State of Hawai‘i’s Rent Relief and Housing Assistance Program provides assistance to Hawai‘i renters and homeowners who have experienced a reduction in income due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk of eviction or foreclosure. Funded by the Federal CARES Act, the program is administered on Kaua‘i by Catholic Charities Hawai‘i.

Applications for rental assistance will be accepted for housing payments due between August 1, 2020 and December 15, 2020. Kaua‘i residents may be eligible for mortgage assistance for amounts owed since April of 2020.

Affected Kaua‘i residents seeking assistance can contact Catholic Charities Hawai‘i’s Lihu‘e office at (808) 241-4673 to see if they qualify. CCH staff will provide those inquiring with information on the application process and required documentation. You may also apply for assistance online.

For more information or to apply on line please visit: https://www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org/housinghelp/

If you believe you have received a notice of eviction or foreclosure in violation of the moratoriums described above, the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i may be able to provide you with further guidance and assistance. The Legal Aid Society’s Neighbor Island phone number is 1- 800-499-4302.

Housing Agency announces update on foreclosure and eviction protections under COVID-19 federal and state emergency proclamations

Effective Monday, July 27, 2020, the Kaua‘i County Housing Agency’s Rental Assistance Division will resume providing public window service from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. A mask is required to enter the building, and to receive service.

Window service includes picking up and returning applications for rental assistance, dropping off documents, and preliminary inquiries.

For more in-depth assistance from the Rental Assistance Division in completing applications an appointment is required. For an appointment, existing clients should call their assigned caseworker directly. New clients who have not yet been assigned to a caseworker may call 241-4440.

For assistance from the Development Division, an advance appointment is required. To make an appointment with the staff of the Development Division, please call 241-4444.

For delivery of mortgage and lease payments at any time, or for delivery of Rental Assistance paperwork outside of regular window hours, the Housing Agency now has a secure mailbox located at the Rice Street Entrance to the Pi`ikoi Building. Any documents placed in the secure drop box after 4 p.m. will be marked as received the following business day.

Changes to Housing Agency Standard Operating Procedures Under Covid-19 Emergency July 21, 2020

LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i County Housing Agency and the Office of the Mayor are implementing a new program that offers emergency rental, mortgage, and utility assistance.

“This program can provide payments of up to $1,500 per month for a maximum of three months to cover rent, mortgage, and utility payments for low- to moderate-income Kaua‘i residents who have suffered a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami.

The County of Kaua‘i is partnering with Family Life Center and Mālama Pono Health Services to implement this program.

For more information and to apply for assistance, please contact these non-profit organizations directly. Family Life Center can be reached at 212-0850; Mālama Pono Health Services can be reached at 246-9577.

News Release : Housing Agency, Mayor Kawakami announces emergency rental, mortgage, and utility assistance program

Many in our community have faced job loss as a result of the Covid-19 Emergency. This sudden loss of income has left many deeply concerned about how they will pay for necessities and the roof over their heads. During the Covid-19 Emergency, the County Housing Agency has adopted a policy of no evictions from County owned properties, and no foreclosures of County issued mortgage loans. Additionally, the County will waive any late fees for missed or untimely payments. These forbearance policies will continue until July 23, 2020. When this emergency is behind us, we will work with our tenants and holders of County loans to work out reasonable payment plans that keep folks in their homes and rentals. In addition, all recipients of rental assistance through the County who have suffered a loss of income are encouraged to contact the Housing Agency at 241-4440 to file a change of circumstance form documenting your loss of income. In most cases this will enable the County to increase your rental assistance to help cover your lost income. Although the County Housing Agency is not open for in-person visits, we are still working by phone to serve  our clients.

Beyond these County actions, the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) contains protections for many homeowners and renters. Under the CARES Act servicers of federally backed mortgage loans (FHA, USDA, VA, HUD Section 184a, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac) are prohibited from initiating any judicial or non-judicial foreclosure actions, from moving for foreclosure judgment or order of sale, or from executing a foreclosure related eviction of foreclosure sale between March 18, 2020 and May 17, 2020. Borrowers of federally backed mortgages experiencing financial hardship due to Covid-19 may request forbearance from their loan servicer for up to 180 days. You should contact your loan servicer directly to request forbearance. With regard to renters, until July 26, 2020, property owners with federally guaranteed loans or participating in federal housing programs, are prohibited from filing for eviction or charging any additional fees for unpaid rent. Property owners with federally guaranteed loans or participating in federal housing programs may not issue a notice to vacate until July 26, 2020. Renters seeking additional information or assistance should contact the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i or a HUD approved housing counselor. You can find the nearest HUD counselor by calling 1 (800) 569-4287. Please note that these County and federal actions provide protections from foreclosures and evictions, for County properties and loans, and with regard to properties with federally backed mortgages. These protections do not necessarily cover all mortgages and tenant situations. The County, however, encourages landlords and private mortgage companies to similarly show forbearance to tenants and borrowers who find themselves in financial hardship. It is also important to understand that while these policies are near term protections from evictions and foreclosures, tenants and homeowners will still be legally responsible for unpaid rents or loan payments that accrue during the Covid-19 emergency. But the County and federally backed loan servicers will work with you to establish reasonable repayment plans to keep our community housed.

Workforce Housing Nexus and Financial Feasibility Analysis for the County of Kauai

The Kaua‘i County Housing Agency Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program announces it will be accepting applications for its Section 8 HCV waiting list starting at 8 a.m. on  May 15, 2019, until further notice.

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List