Residents across the Islands affected by Hurricanes Lala and Lowell can now apply for grants of up to $1,000 from the Hawai‘i Realtors Charitable Foundation to help offset the impact of the storms.
The foundation — the nonprofit charitable arm of Hawai‘i Realtors, itself a professional trade organization founded in 1967 with more than 10,000 active members involved in all aspects of Hawai‘i real estate — will distribute a total of $200,000 in grants.
According to a recent announcement, the funds are provided by the Realtors Relief Foundation, which offers housing-related assistance to communities affected by disasters. That organization has disbursed more than $52 million to more than 30,000 families across the country since 2001, the announcement notes, adding that the National Association of Realtors works with state and local associations to cover all administrative costs.
"The Hawai‘i Realtors Charitable Foundation is committed to helping Hawai‘i’s communities," Nancy Donahue Jones, CEO of Hawai‘i Realtors, told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. "In recent years, the foundation has helped administer nearly $2 million in relief for the Maui wildfires and over $165,000 in assistance for families impacted by the Kona Low storms."
The funding is intended to help eligible households with housing-related expenses, she says, noting that assistance is limited to eligible expenses like a monthly mortgage payment for a primary residence, rental housing expenses or temporary lodging expenses.
According to the the program website, you'll qualify for aid if:
- You own your primary residence, pay a monthly mortgage and there was physical property damage due to the storm.
- You own your primary residence with no mortgage and there was physical property damage due to the storm.
- You have a new lease or lease agreement due to displacement from your primary residence as a result of the storm.
- If you rent your primary residence, were evacuated and incurred a hotel or Airbnb expense because of the storm.
You won't qualify if:
- You rent your home, encountered damages and were not displaced.
- You experienced a power outage without physical property damage.
- There was not damage to your primary dwelling.
More information about required documentation and how to apply can be found here. Applications are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and the deadline to submit applications is Nov. 4.
Hurricane Lala tracked just south of the Islands in mid-August, bringing with it damaging winds, heavy rains and flooding across the state, although Hawai‘i Island took a brunt of the storm.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Hurricane Lowell, which was tracking south of the Islands before it turned north and passed near Niihau and Kaua‘i, brought more high winds and heavy rains to parts of the state.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
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