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Housing the Homeless: Vouchers Available, Landlords Needed!

June 28, 2021

From the Office for Social Ministry

A variety of housing vouchers (rent subsidies) are available statewide for individuals and families who are newly homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. Unfortunately, the need for housing is greater than what the current inventory provides. The only way for our community to move the dial with housing the houseless is to work together - LANDLORDS ARE NEEDED! 

Oahu Housing Now is a collaborative partnership between the C&C of Honolulu and Partners In Care (PIC), a coalition of organizations representing non-profit, private, government and community organizations. PIC is leading Oahu Housing Now by providing capacity building support and technical assistance. The City is supporting the program through CARES Act funding. Each partnering service provider brings to the table their particular area of expertise. Partners have set a goal to re-house at least 300 homeless households, or around 1,000 individuals, by this September. These households will be supported with rent for 12 months and will be provided with the needed wrap-around services for ensuring they’re set-up to go into permanent housing when the program concludes.

Oahu Housing Now will apply a Rapid Rehousing approach throughout the course of the program.

Rapid Rehousing is an approach where short-term rental assistance and supportive services are provided to assist with:

• obtaining housing quickly
• increasing self-sufficiency, and
• maintaining housing

In addition to Oahu Housing Now, a minimum of 708 Emergency Housing Vouchers will be coming to Hawaii through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. These vouchers are specifically for households which are homeless, are at risk of becoming homeless or are fleeing volatile circumstances (e.g. domestic violence, trafficking). With these additional vouchers being made available on all islands, the call out to property owners for open units is even more urgent.

WHAT IS NEEDED are opportunities to raise awareness and to break down barriers and misconceptions of voucher programs and the people who rely on vouchers to maintain a stable life.

Please check out the following webpage for more information and to learn about some of the supports available locally for landlords: https://homelessness.hawaii.gov/landlord-engagement/

Stay tuned for details on a virtual presentation and discussion for our community on this important topic that will be hosted by the Office of the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness.

(Image credit: Tada Images/Shutterstock.com)