Applicants Should Keep in Touch with FEMA; Follow-Up, Appeal and Request Rental Assistance if Needed

HONOLULU - If you were impacted by the March Kona Low storms and applied for federal assistance, stay in touch with FEMA, provide requested information, and appeal if needed.

FEMA is still reviewing cases, conducting inspections, and processing appeals. Registered homeowners and renters who are still working toward safe, permanent housing may qualify for Rental Assistance or Continued Temporary Housing Assistance (CTHA). If you have not yet found permanent housing or have exhausted your initial FEMA Rental Assistance or rental coverage through insurance, you may be eligible for additional housing assistance. Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 for more information.

What Are FEMA Rental Assistance and Continued Temporary Housing Assistance?

FEMA's Rental Assistance program helps eligible homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing if their primary residence was damaged by the Kona Low flooding.

• Initial Rental Assistance is typically a two-month grant to help cover temporary housing costs, which may include deposit, rent and basic eligible utilities.
• If you are still displaced after using your initial Rental Assistance grant and can show documentation that the funds were used for temporary housing, you may request CTHA.

CTHA provides additional financial assistance so impacted residents can remain in temporary housing while they work toward permanent solutions.

Who May Qualify for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance?

To apply for CTHA, impacted residents must:

1. Have been awarded initial Rental Assistance and show that the money was used to pay for temporary housing.
2. Be unable to return to their pre-disaster residence because it is not safe, sanitary, or functional, or because the home is no longer available due to the disaster.
3. Demonstrate continued financial need caused by the disaster.
4. Have a permanent housing plan and show they are actively working toward rebuilding, repairing, or securing other long-term housing.

If you receive Rental Assistance, keep all receipts for rent and eligible utilities each month. These documents help FEMA confirm that assistance is being used for housing and support your eligibility for recertification.

How to Request Continued Temporary Housing Assistance

If you were initially approved for Rental Assistance, FEMA will mail or email a CTHA application about 15 days after your initial Rental Assistance grant is approved.

You can return your CTHA application and supporting documents to FEMA in any of the following ways:

• Online: Upload documents to your FEMA disaster assistance account at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• By mail:
  FEMA
  P.O. Box 10055
  Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
• By FEMA App: Download and use the FEMA App from your device's app store to access your account and upload documents.

Read and Respond to FEMA Letters After You Apply for Assistance

After you apply, FEMA may send letters or online notifications explaining:

• What assistance has been approved,
• What additional information may be needed, or
• Why you are not currently approved for certain assistance.

Impacted residents should:

• Read all FEMA letters carefully,
• Follow the instructions provided, and
• Contact FEMA if they have questions about the meaning of the letter or next steps.

You Can Appeal if You Disagree with a FEMA Decision

If FEMA notifies you that you are not currently approved for certain assistance, it does not mean the case is definitively closed. You have the right to appeal.

• Your appeal should:
  • Explain why you believe you should be approved, and
  • Include any supporting documents such as updated contractor estimates, photos of damage, insurance letters, or proof of occupancy or ownership.

FEMA may also request additional information following your application. A common reason an application is not approved is missing documentation. FEMA may ask for:

• Proof of occupancy such as a lease, utility bill, or motor vehicle registration,
• Proof of ownership such as a deed, mortgage statement, or property tax bill,
• Proof of identity in the form of a government-issued photo ID,
• Insurance information including settlement or denial letters.

Appeals and responses to requests for information should be sent to FEMA in one of the following ways:

• Online: Upload documents to your FEMA disaster assistance account at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• By mail:
  FEMA
  P.O. Box 10055
  Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
• By fax: 1-800-827-8112
• By phone: Call 1-800-621-3362 to discuss your situation and how to submit documents.
• By FEMA App: Download and use the FEMA App from your device's app store to access your account and upload documents.

Keep Your Contact Information Current

Applicants should ensure FEMA can reach them:

• Update FEMA if your phone number, mailing address, email, or insurance information changes.
• If you use a relay service, such as video relay or captioned telephone, please provide FEMA with the number for that service when you call.

FEMA will continue to work with the State of Hawaiʻi, counties, and local partners to support impacted residents as they move through the assistance process, secure housing, and work toward permanent recovery.