Hawaiʻi County Office of Housing & Community Development

Brief Information About Housing Authorities in Hilo

The Hawaiʻi County Office of Housing & Community Development is situated at 1990 Kino‘ole Street, Suite 102 Hilo, Hawaii 96720. The phone number is 808-961-8379.

The HA is responsible for managing the housing program for citizens in need. This includes the application step, the guidelines for eligibility, and any other resources. The HA’s mission is to provide subsidized rents for low-income families, provide access to various assistance programs for housing problems. You can reach out to the Hawaiʻi County Office of Housing & Community Development for issues regarding the qualification process, the location of the proprieties that are under the office’s management, or any information regarding Hilo Section 8 landlord’s details.

2024 Income Limits

According to the latest statistical data as of 2024, the median income is $24,327. You can find up-to-date data on income limits for Hilo and other cities by clicking on the link:

Waiting List Statuses in Hilo

To check the status of your waitlist, please click on the link provided to visit the official page of the organization.

How Do I Apply in Hawaiʻi County Office of Housing & Community Development?

To apply for the Public Housing Program or the Section 8 voucher, you would need to reach out to the Hawaiʻi County Office of Housing & Community Development first. From them, you will get the application form. You also prepare the necessary for all the family members: ID, employment, bank account info, bank account status. You can e-mail or drop in the application at the Hawaiʻi County Office of Housing & Community Development office. They will contact you with any questions.

More information can be found on the official HUD website:

FAQ

How long are affordable housing waiting lists?

The most common HA program is Section 8. There is a long waiting list for this program. With the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of people that have applied for the vouchers of Section 8 has skyrocketed, hence there are a lot of application delays. As of right now, the housing authority waiting list is 1 year and a half. The public housing authority programs favors specific groups of people or families that fit certain profiles. Priority is given to veterans, to the elderly, to the people that are exiting domestic violence.

What is public housing and how does it work?

Public housing is a program that has more than 900000 units across all USA. They are rarer in rural areas. These units are more often in poor areas and racially segregated communities. The service is to prevent homelessness, in one way or another. The HA gives rental vouchers that cover some part of the rent, and the tenants are responsible for covering a small part of the rent. That part depends on the agreement and the situation of the tenant. The HA program is designed to help people that are struggling to get a roof on their heads. The HA can be managed by the state, and by local agencies.

How to apply for public housing assistance?

Applying for housing authority assistance needs a lot of paperwork, but is very straightforward. You start by reaching out to your local HA. You can open our free site to find the closest to your location. You complete the housing options assessment, which is an online form. You also bring the supporting documents: id, proof of income, and details regarding your special situation. After, you get all these documents and crop them at your local housing authority.

After your application is received, you will get a written notification of your application. If you get accepted, you will sign a lease with your HA.

How long can you stay in public housing?

When getting a place to live with the housing authority, it is good news as your emergency is now solved. Well, there are always the questions of what happens next and how long can you stay in that place? The short answer is if you keep qualifying for the same requirements that you got the place in the first time. That means that if your income stays below 80% of the local median income, you are good. There is always the requirement of good behavior.

You also must take care of your part of the rent. The housing authority provides help, but the idea is that you still cover a small part of the rent and expenses. You also need to make your payments on time.

How to apply for a housing choice voucher program?

You can apply for the housing choice voucher program by reaching out to the local housing authority office. You fill out their application form and provide all supporting documents. After you have all the forms and supporting documents, you drop them at the local office, and then you are placed on a waiting list. If approved, you will receive a mail at your current address stating the details. You will then notify your landlord. After you have been accepted onto the housing choice voucher program go to the housing office and sign the contract.

Reference

Hawaii HUB News

Official websites of housing authorities in Hawaii