Hawaii Expands Section 8 Housing Assistance Amid Rising Rental Costs

Residents in Hawaii who are struggling with rising rental costs now have more opportunities to get help paying for housing. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs, which provide rental assistance, are opening waitlists across the state’s counties.

This expansion is made possible through additional federal funding aimed at helping more people afford a place to live in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country.
 

How Section 8 Waitlists Are Opening

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has provided extra funds to Hawaii’s housing authorities. These funds allow local programs to process applications faster and open their waitlists sooner than expected.

This is happening as Hawaii faces some of the highest housing costs in the nation, making programs like Section 8 vital for helping residents find and keep affordable housing.

The efforts to open waitlists across multiple counties come as rental prices continue to increase across the Hawaiian islands. Local housing offices are working to make it easier for people to apply and access the help they need.
 

Honolulu’s Section 8 Program Receives More Funding

The Honolulu Section 8 program began accepting applications on July 14, and the window to apply will stay open until July 18. Thanks to an extra $10 million in federal funding, Honolulu’s program was able to expand its capacity and open applications earlier than expected.

According to Anton Krucky, Director of the Department of Community Services, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program helps eligible residents pay for any rental property where landlords accept the vouchers. Under this program, tenants only pay 30% of their adjusted income toward rent, while the voucher covers the rest.

This program is designed for households earning up to 50% of the median income in Honolulu. For a single-person household, income limits start at just over $50,000, and the limit increases for larger families.

Applicants are selected through a screening process, not on a first-come, first-served basis. About 3,000 households will be chosen from the applicant pool by mid-August.
 

Hawaii County’s Voucher Waitlist Opens Soon

The County of Hawaii will open its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waitlist on August 1, and applications will remain open indefinitely. This program has wider income eligibility, accepting individuals and families who earn up to 80% of the area’s median income.

This program allows eligible applicants to find safe and affordable housing on the private market using rental assistance. Applications must be submitted online through the County’s website, but help is available for people with disabilities or those who have trouble accessing the internet.

Unlike Honolulu’s waitlist, the longer application window for Hawaii County gives applicants more time to apply. It also lets housing authorities add people to the waitlist and process applications as new funding becomes available.
 

Application Requirements

To apply for either program, households must provide detailed information. This includes Social Security numbers, income details, asset statements, and birth dates for all family members.

Applicants also need to answer questions about past criminal history and public assistance for adult members of the household.

Multilingual support is available in Honolulu, with assistance provided in six different languages, including Cantonese, Korean, and Vietnamese. These language services help ensure that Hawaii’s diverse population can access housing assistance.

For those without internet access, both programs offer alternative options, such as public libraries or local government offices. Honolulu residents can visit HUD’s office on Bethel Street to complete their applications.
 

Federal Funding Expands Housing Support

The additional federal funding has made these program launches possible. With more resources, local housing offices can process applications faster and expand assistance to more families. This is critical in Hawaii, where high rental costs make it difficult for many households to stay in stable housing.

While submitting an application doesn’t guarantee approval, the expanded capacity gives eligible people a better chance to receive assistance. Applicants will go through income verification, background checks, and other requirements before being selected.
 

Addressing Housing Challenges in Hawaii

The coordinated launch of Section 8 programs across Hawaii reflects a strong partnership between federal funding and local housing authorities. These efforts aim to ease the housing crisis in the state by making rental assistance available to more families in need.

For residents struggling to pay rent, these programs offer a glimmer of hope in Hawaii’s challenging housing environment.

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