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Housing Crisis: Landlords Needed!

July 12, 2021

From the Office for Social Ministry

Throughout the pandemic, scores of residents were furloughed or lost their jobs completely leaving many unable to pay their rent. Effective August 2021, the statewide eviction moratorium is set to end! Landlords deserve the rent owed to them and at the same time we must give our best effort to avoid a wave of displaced households!

It is critically important that we find ways to engage landlords.

More than 700 Emergency Housing Vouchers are being allocated to all counties throughout our state made available by HUD through the American Rescue Plan Act. These vouchers are specifically for households which are homeless, are at risk of becoming homeless or fleeing volatile circumstances (e.g. domestic violence, trafficking). These vouchers are being administered by the Counties and the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. 

Additional vouchers are being made available through the following programs:

• The Oahu Housing Now program
• Rapid Rehousing
• Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers
• The Rent to Work program.

LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT is critically important if we want to ensure families and individuals have a safe roof over their heads and are able to sustain themselves. The vouchers mentioned above guarantee payment which gives some assurances to landlords during this time of financial uncertainty. The cooperation of landlords in every parish on every island is needed!

On Oahu, the Landlord Engagement Program (LEP) ensures that the landlord (or property manager) is supported by responding to complaints and concerns. Landlords have access to a damage mitigation fund through this program should a unit be damaged in any way. Additional 24/7 phone support is also available for both tenants and landlords.

ALL INTERESTED ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION

on Landlord Engagement hosted by Scott Morishige, the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness.
Date: Thursday, July 29, 2021              Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM

The session will be conducted on Microsoft Teams. You may join on your computer or mobile app by clicking on the following: Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only)
+1 808-829-4853,,533760811#  United States, Honolulu
Phone Conference ID: 533 760 811#

For more information about Landlord Engagement, go to https://homelessness.hawaii.gov/landlord-engagement/or for details about the virtual session, contact Cheryl Bellisario directly at Phone : (808)586-0009 or Email:  cheryl.a.bellisario@hawaii.gov.

Other related queries may also be directed to Iwie Tamashiro of the Office for Social Ministry at itamashiro@rcchawaii.org.