Today, Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele announced the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and the City and County of Honolulu are among the fastest distributors of Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) in the nation according to the U.S. Department of Treasury. 

Congressman Kahele helped pass the American Rescue Plan, which nearly doubled the initial funding to expand the existing ERA program to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the families and communities most in need, he encouraged Hawaiii State and County governments to fast-track the distribution of ERA funds. 

“The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ and the City and County of Honolulu’s success in distributing federal rent and utility assistance is a victory for Hawaiʻi,” said Kahele. “As we face the ongoing economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, efficiently distributing Emergency Rental Assistance to our community members in need keeps families in their homes. I am proud to be a federal partner in these efforts, and I applaud the outstanding work of DHHL, the City and County of Honolulu, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi and Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement for connecting our community members to these resources.”

Congressman Kahele is in communication with Governor Ige to support the State’s efforts to ramp up the distribution of remaining rent and utility assistance to eligible households across Hawaiʻi.

“The nonprofit organizations running these programs have worked together to simplify the application process and provide additional ‘one-on-one’ and culturally competent support to meet local needs,” said the Treasury Department in its announcement. “They have also proactively engaged with other nonprofit organizations providing human services resulting in more integrated continuum of care for those in need of ERA benefits. These coordinated services have supported high spend rates on ERA funds for both grantee programs run by the City and County of Honolulu and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.”

“Emergency Rental Assistance is available to households across Hawaiʻi,” Kahele added. “I encourage anyone experiencing anxiety about paying for rent or utilities in the ongoing public health crisis to contact your county’s rent and utility assistance program to see if you qualify for this federal assistance.”

To aid in these efforts, Congressman Kahele has launched an Emergency Rental Assistance resource page on his website.

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