FEMA Extends Housing Assistance for Maui Wildfire Survivors Through 2027

U.S. officials have granted a significant request to extend housing assistance for survivors of the catastrophic wildfires that swept through Hawaii in 2023, as announced by Hawaii Governor Josh Green. This decision comes as nearly 1,000 households displaced by the fires anxiously awaited news on the future of federal assistance that has been crucial in helping them secure housing.

With the rental market in Hawaii being one of the tightest and most expensive in the nation, the potential expiration of this assistance would have forced many families to seek new housing or face increased costs. Related: Maui Fire Survivors Brace for Possible End to FEMA Rental Assistance

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem approved Hawaii’s request to extend the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) temporary housing assistance for Maui wildfire survivors until February 2027. Governor Green shared this news in a recent press release, although FEMA has yet to confirm the extension.

“It lifted a weight I did not even realize I was carrying, and I know many other families were carrying that same weight too,” said Kukui Keahi, a Lahaina fire survivor and associate director of Kako’o Maui Programs at the nonprofit Hawaiian Council, expressing relief upon learning of the extension.

The devastating fires in Lahaina and Kula destroyed approximately 2,200 structures and tragically claimed 102 lives. Following the disaster, then-President Joe Biden declared a major disaster, which unlocked FEMA assistance for around 12,000 displaced individuals, 89% of whom were renters at the time of the fires. Initially, the program was set for 18 months but was extended until February 2026.

Related: Hawaii Building Fires Are on the Rise and Safety Inspections Aren’t Keeping Up

However, with few homes rebuilt and rental inventory dwindling, the state submitted another request for an extension in May. “Recovery doesn’t follow an artificial deadline, and I appreciate Secretary Noem and the administration for recognizing the reality families are still facing on the ground here in Hawai’i,” Governor Green remarked.

While other states have experienced megafires that destroyed more homes, the situation in Maui has created a unique crisis. The limited housing stock and the island’s remote location from the mainland U.S. have made it exceptionally challenging to relocate survivors and facilitate rebuilding efforts.

FEMA, along with state and county officials and various nonprofits, has been working diligently to find housing solutions for the displaced. Many survivors are eager to remain close to Lahaina to stay near their jobs, schools, and community. In the initial weeks following the fires, FEMA collaborated with the Red Cross to house 8,000 residents in hotels and temporary shelters before transitioning families to other forms of housing assistance.

FEMA has provided financial support for rent, installed temporary shelters on burned properties, and leased thousands of units to rent back to survivors. However, some individuals have expressed frustration over burdensome eligibility requirements and the need to relocate multiple times.

Steven Hew, a 52-year-old restaurant cashier who rents a subsidized apartment from FEMA after losing his family’s multigenerational home in Lahaina, was unaware of the extension until contacted by The Associated Press. He described his reaction: “I was shaking. A lot of people were on edge and scared and didn’t know what they were going to do,” if the assistance was not extended.

“Somebody had a heart and just said ‘Yes,’ and whoever that person was, I thank them,” Hew added, expressing hope to save enough money over the next year to secure a place of his own.

Aoun Angueira reported from San Diego, California.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Topics
Catastrophe
Natural Disasters
Wildfire
FEMA

U.S. officials have granted a significant request to extend housing assistance for survivors of the catastrophic wildfires that swept through Hawaii in 2023, as announced by Hawaii Governor Josh Green. This decision comes as nearly 1,000 households displaced by the fires anxiously awaited news on the future of federal assistance that has been crucial in helping them secure housing.

With the rental market in Hawaii being one of the tightest and most expensive in the nation, the potential expiration of this assistance would have forced many families to seek new housing or face increased costs. Related: Maui Fire Survivors Brace for Possible End to FEMA Rental Assistance

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem approved Hawaii’s request to extend the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) temporary housing assistance for Maui wildfire survivors until February 2027. Governor Green shared this news in a recent press release, although FEMA has yet to confirm the extension.

“It lifted a weight I did not even realize I was carrying, and I know many other families were carrying that same weight too,” said Kukui Keahi, a Lahaina fire survivor and associate director of Kako’o Maui Programs at the nonprofit Hawaiian Council, expressing relief upon learning of the extension.

The devastating fires in Lahaina and Kula destroyed approximately 2,200 structures and tragically claimed 102 lives. Following the disaster, then-President Joe Biden declared a major disaster, which unlocked FEMA assistance for around 12,000 displaced individuals, 89% of whom were renters at the time of the fires. Initially, the program was set for 18 months but was extended until February 2026.

Related: Hawaii Building Fires Are on the Rise and Safety Inspections Aren’t Keeping Up

However, with few homes rebuilt and rental inventory dwindling, the state submitted another request for an extension in May. “Recovery doesn’t follow an artificial deadline, and I appreciate Secretary Noem and the administration for recognizing the reality families are still facing on the ground here in Hawai’i,” Governor Green remarked.

While other states have experienced megafires that destroyed more homes, the situation in Maui has created a unique crisis. The limited housing stock and the island’s remote location from the mainland U.S. have made it exceptionally challenging to relocate survivors and facilitate rebuilding efforts.

FEMA, along with state and county officials and various nonprofits, has been working diligently to find housing solutions for the displaced. Many survivors are eager to remain close to Lahaina to stay near their jobs, schools, and community. In the initial weeks following the fires, FEMA collaborated with the Red Cross to house 8,000 residents in hotels and temporary shelters before transitioning families to other forms of housing assistance.

FEMA has provided financial support for rent, installed temporary shelters on burned properties, and leased thousands of units to rent back to survivors. However, some individuals have expressed frustration over burdensome eligibility requirements and the need to relocate multiple times.

Steven Hew, a 52-year-old restaurant cashier who rents a subsidized apartment from FEMA after losing his family’s multigenerational home in Lahaina, was unaware of the extension until contacted by The Associated Press. He described his reaction: “I was shaking. A lot of people were on edge and scared and didn’t know what they were going to do,” if the assistance was not extended.

“Somebody had a heart and just said ‘Yes,’ and whoever that person was, I thank them,” Hew added, expressing hope to save enough money over the next year to secure a place of his own.

Aoun Angueira reported from San Diego, California.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Topics
Catastrophe
Natural Disasters
Wildfire
FEMA