This article represents a joint message from the diocesan Office for Social Ministry, HOPE Services Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii and the Hawaii Catholic Conference, working with the Office of the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness.
While homelessness often seems an intractable problem, Hawaii has an opportunity to significantly reduce homelessness due to unprecedented levels of housing resources from the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. However, a challenge to using these resources is the reluctance to rent to those receiving assistance from housing programs, as demonstrated through the common stipulation in rental ads that states, “No Section 8” or “No Vouchers.”
Housing vouchers are a crucial resource for many low-income families to get and stay housed. Section 8 is the most prevalent housing voucher in our community, assisting around 10,000 Hawaii households. Section 8 vouchers pay 70% of the rent directly to the landlord and the tenant is responsible for covering the remaining 30% of rent.
To address the stigma against housing vouchers and to reduce homelessness will take the collective effort of our entire community. A vital component will be community landlords and supportive neighbors willing to step forward and provide rental units to take in local individuals or families.
By participating with a housing program, landlords have an opportunity to change someone’s life and future trajectory. One example of how a landlord stepped forward and made a difference is Chersy Ponochew, a 40-year-old teacher’s aide and single mother of three who was featured in a recent Honolulu Star-Advertiser article. Chersy had been living in a van in Kalihi and at a homeless shelter before a landlord stepped forward and took a chance to provide her a unit in Nuuanu through the CARES Act-funded Oahu Housing Now (OHN) program.
OHN aims to house more than 300 homeless or housing insecure households (around 1,000 people) by September. Since April, the program has housed 86 families and needs additional help to meet its goal.
OHN is just one new opportunity to house those in need. Another example is the over 700 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) provided statewide through the American Rescue Plan. The EHVs provide ongoing rental subsidies for eligible households, similar to Section 8. Specifically, the new EHVs can assist those who are homeless, at imminent risk of homelessness, and who are fleeing volatile situations, such as domestic violence.
Programs like OHN and the EHVs not only come with support for tenants, but also provide support for landlords. In addition to guaranteed rent, landlords benefit from providers that offer case management and wrap-around services to the tenant. Depending on the county you live in, additional supports may be provided.
For Oahu, landlords interested in learning more or renting their unit can contact the Landlord Engagement Program (LEP) at 380-9354 or by email at LEP@partnersincareoahu.org
For landlords in Hawaii County, Maui County, or Kaua‘i County, please contact your local Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program office to learn more.
- Hawaii County: 959-4642, sec8info@hawaiicounty.gov
- Maui County: 270-7751, housing.hhc@co.maui.hi.us
- Kauai County: 241-4440, housing@kauai.gov
Please check out the following webpage from the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness for information about the importance of engaging landlords and the barriers people face when accessing housing: homelessness.hawaii.gov/landlord-engagement.