More families and individuals can seek assistance through the city’s rental and utility relief program under new requirements.
The city, in accordance with the latest round of federal relief funds, is expanding the program’s eligibility requirements for those impacted by the pandemic.
Qualified households could receive up to $2,500 a month for rent and utility bills — and pay past due bills as far back as 2020.
Amy Asselbaye, the executive director of the city’s Office of Economic Revitalization, says the new requirements make it easier for people to get relief.
"First, it would allow a household to receive support for up to 18 months. Previously, support was only available for up to 12 months. Another one changes eligibility to allow households that have suffered harm during the pandemic, rather than due to the pandemic to receive relief," she said.
"So you used to have to identify that as being caused by the pandemic. Now, if a person, let’s say, they were laid off in March 2020 for reasons unrelated to the pandemic, this financial hardship would qualify them for the program," Asselbaye said.
So far, the city’s rent and utility relief program has distributed $115 million to local households.
More information can be found at oneoahu.org/renthelp.
