HONOLULU — Monday, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i will receive $1,820,264 in federal funding to support the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. These funds will help support rental assistance programs for current voucher holders who lost their job or saw a significant reduction in income due to the pandemic.
HONOLULU — Monday, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i will receive $1,820,264 in federal funding to support the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. These funds will help support rental assistance programs for current voucher holders who lost their job or saw a significant reduction in income due to the pandemic.
The HCV program helps very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Approximately 13,000 households rely on section 8 housing in Hawai‘i.
Before the pandemic, HCV voucher holders were required to pay 30 percent of their income towards rent, and the voucher covered the difference. Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, tenants affected by the pandemic can pay less than 30 percent toward rent and this new funding for the HCV program new funding will offset the difference.
Most that needed it have by now lost their rental and can’t find anything since they rent out to mainlanders coming for a few months paying double. It’s illegal but nobody is doing anything. Check Craigslist, those aren’t local prices for rentals. Sad.