The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will award $1.3 million to the State of Hawaii in order to support people who were already experiencing homelessness—those living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing, or a place not meant for human habitation—or at risk of homelessness through the Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) program. The funding is awarded to help communities in Maui in the aftermath of the recent wildfire disaster.

RUSH funding is responding to the surge in shelter needs to assist the community in addressing homelessness that could be exacerbated by the recent wildfires. The eligible activities for this funding include emergency shelter; rapid re-housing, which provides up to 24 months of rental assistance, financial assistance for move in costs, and supportive services for people currently experiencing homelessness; homelessness prevention, which provides up to 24 months of rental assistance, utility assistance, and supportive services for people at risk of homelessness; and outreach assistance, including assistance to meet urgent needs, for people who are unsheltered. 

People experiencing pre-disaster homelessness have very limited eligibility for FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA). RUSH fills this gap in aid, giving communities essential resources to provide long-term housing solutions for people experiencing pre-disaster homelessness and to prevent long-term homelessness among those who have been recently displaced.