FEMA extends deadline by a year for 1,200 people it is helping to house after the Maui wildfires
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved an extension of housing help for Maui wildfire survivors
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Survivors of last year's deadly wildfire that decimated a historic Maui town will receive an additional year of housing assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Housing has been a major challenge in recovering from the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfire that killed at least 102 people and displaced 12,000.
FEMA has focused on providing rentals for survivors who did not have insurance coverage for fire losses. The agency is directly leasing homes for more than 1,200 households and giving subsidies to 500 others to use on their own. Many of the rentals are in Kihei, 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Lahaina.
The deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century created uncertainty for many survivors forced to move multiple times, often from one hotel room to another.
The housing assistance was set to end in February, but FEMA approved a one-year extension that will end on Feb. 10, 2026, according to a statement distributed Monday by Hawaii officials.
A report published earlier this month by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization said that unemployment and poverty are up and incomes are down among Maui wildfire survivors. The report, based on 402 survey responses reflective of the communities affected by last year's fires, found that nine out of 10 respondents lost their homes.
“On behalf of our state, I want to express my gratitude to FEMA for this favorable response to my administration’s request. The ongoing support FEMA and our other federal partners have provided has been crucial for the recovery of our people,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said in a statement.
“I am reminded that when he visited Lahaina, President Joe Biden said he and his administration would be with our people for as long as it takes and we are humbly appreciative of that steadfast commitment," Green said.