A number of local nonprofit organizations have come together to launch the Hawaiʻi County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

ERAP is funded by the County of Hawaiʻi through federal funding and will provide rent and utility grants to households that can prove financial hardship due to COVID‐19 for each month they receive assistance from March 2020 to December 2021.

Program applications will be available starting  Monday, April 12th, at 8 am.

Funding will  be limited to households’ primary residence on Hawaiʻi  Island.  Households will be limited to 12 months of total grant assistance.  The Hawaiʻi County ERAP will be led by local nonprofit community development financial institution, Hawaiʻi  Community Lending.  Six Hawaiʻi Island‐based nonprofit  partners will process applications and payments will be made  directly to landlords, property managers, or utility providers.  Approved applicants will also have access to financial  counseling and other housing stability services.

ERAP nonprofit partners include:

 HOPE Services Hawaiʻi (HOPE)

 Hawaiʻi First Federal Credit Union (HFFCU)

 Neighborhood Place of Puna (NPP)

 Habitat for Humanity Hawaiʻi Island (HFHHI)

 The Salvation Army (TSA)

 Hawaiʻi County Economic Opportunity Council  (HCEOC)

“We are honored to be able to provide relief to our local  families by alleviating some of the financial pressures caused  by the COVID‐19 pandemic,” said Hawaiʻi County Mayor  Mitch Roth in a press release.  Roth continued, “with the help of local nonprofit organizations, we will keep the roofs over the heads of 3,400 households,  and that, to me, is something pretty special. Through  continued partnerships and the community’s support, we can  and will thrive through this pandemic – together!”

To qualify for rent or utility assistance grants applicants must meet the following qualifications:

 Be a Hawai’i Island resident

 At least 18 years old

 Lost income due to COVID‐19, and

 2020 or current annual gross household income at  or below 80% of area median income for the  number of members in their household.  ERAP will give priority households at or below 50% of area median income with household  members who have been unemployed for 90 days preceding the date of the application.

Applicants will be required to submit the following documents with their applications to be considered for rent or utility assistance:

 Copy of photo ID  Income Documents for ALL household members (provide all that apply)

 30 days most recent pay stubs

 2 months most recent business bank statements (if self‐employed)

 Unemployment or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefit letter

 Public benefit statements  Housing

 Copy of rental lease/contract  Proof of Hardship (provide 1 of the following)

 30 days of pay stubs for February 2020

 Unemployment or PUA approval letter

 Letter from employer verifying job loss or reduced work hours

 Business bank statements for January and February 2020 (if self‐employed)  Housing Assistance Need (provide 1 of the following)

 Past due rent notice

 Eviction notice

 Past due utility notice

The public can contact For more information or to apply, contact one of the ERAP nonprofit partners listed above.

Interested candidates can apply by contacting the following ERAP partners via web or phone:

www.hopeserviceshawaii.org –  (808) 935-3050

www.neighborhoodplace.org – (808)965-5550

www.habitathawaiiisland.org – (808)-843-0071

hawaii.salvationarmy.org – (808) 935-1277

www.hceoc.net – (808)-932-2714

www.hawaiifirstfcu.com – (808) 933-6600