Nearly 700 Lahaina fire survivor households remain in FEMA housing assistance as of mid-2026, with many applicants to Maui County’s Hoʻokumu Hou First-Time Homebuyer Program experiencing repeated documentation requests and delays. FEMA’s housing assistance, previously set to expire in February 2026, was extended through February 2027.
- Nearly 700 fire survivor households are still relying on FEMA’s direct housing assistance program, which was extended through February 2027 after a last-minute reprieve.
- Maui County’s Hoʻokumu Hou program offers qualified fire survivors up to $600,000 toward a home purchase, but applicants report ongoing documentation delays more than a year after the program launched.
- Program rules require purchased homes to be owner-occupied, outside flood zones, and built before a certain year — criteria that are difficult to meet with Lahaina’s current limited housing stock.
- Homes purchased through the program must be resold at affordable prices to income-qualified buyers for 99 years, restricting future property value upside for participants.
- Many survivors report uncertainty about whether they will be able to remain in Lahaina or will be forced to relocate before assistance runs out in early 2027.
Source: Hawaii Public Radio
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