The End of FEMA Assistance and What Comes Next

Government Response & Community Planning as FEMA Assistance Ends for Maui Fire Survivors

What state and county leaders are doing — and what still needs to happen

As FEMA’s disaster assistance programs — including financial aid and temporary housing support — approach their scheduled end in late February 2026, fire survivors on Maui face a major transition. Thousands of households that have relied on federal help since the devastating 2023 wildfires are now confronting uncertainty and the reality of rebuilding without long-term federal support.

🏛 State of Hawai‘i’s Efforts & Requests

The State of Hawai‘i, led by Governor Josh Green and the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA), has actively collaborated with FEMA and other partners throughout recovery — seeking extensions, providing outreach, and advocating for survivors’ needs.

• In 2024, the state successfully secured an extension of FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP), pushing the deadline for direct temporary housing and financial assistance to February 28, 2026. This extension reflected the exceptional hardships survivors continue to face.
  
  
• Hawai‘i officials have requested another 12-month extension through early 2027 so the transition from federal to local support can be more orderly and reduce disruption for families and renters — but the decision remains under FEMA review.
  
  
• HIEMA has worked with FEMA on monthly outreach sessions to ensure survivors understand their options, the timelines, and next-step resources as federal programs diminish.
  
  

State leaders continue to emphasize that any abrupt end to federal housing aid could leave many residents without stable shelter in a market where rental vacancies are extremely low and prices remain high.

🏙 Maui County’s Planning and Contingency Efforts

At the county level, officials are also preparing for a post-FEMA world — though significant challenges remain.

• County planners have been incorporating FEMA transition scenarios into broader recovery strategies, including looking at local programs that could step in if federal housing assistance is not extended.
  
  
• One such proposal has included exploring how county or state entities might take over facilities like the Kilohana temporary housing site to continue providing affordable accommodations.
  
  
• These contingency plans also consider partnerships with nonprofits and community housing projects — such as Ka La‘i Ola, a modular housing development that offers longer-term options for residents — though demand far outstrips availability.
  
  

Maui County is part of ongoing discussions with the state and federal officials about how best to use federal block grants and other funding sources to expand affordable housing, rebuild infrastructure, and close service gaps left as FEMA assistance winds down.

🤝 Collaboration Across Government and Community

The transition from federal to local leadership in recovery underscores a broader pattern: disaster recovery in Maui increasingly depends on cross-sector collaboration.

• The state and county have coordinated debris removal, rebuilding support, and long-term planning with FEMA, nonprofits, and community partners to share resources and information.
  
  
• Despite uncertainty about FEMA’s future role, local leaders repeatedly state their commitment to ensuring survivors continue to have access to critical support, whether through state programs, nonprofit networks, or county services.
  
  

Still, officials acknowledge no complete local solution is fully in place if FEMA’s programs lapse entirely, especially for housing and case management services. This reality makes the outcome of the extension request all the more consequential.

📌 Looking Ahead: What This Means for Survivors

As we approach the end of FEMA support:

• Extensions or new federal agreements could provide months — or years — of breathing room for families working toward permanent housing.
  
  
• State and county strategies will need to evolve quickly to bridge gaps in housing affordability, case management, and community services.
  
  
• Community organizations are expected to play a larger role in ongoing recovery, filling services and support that government programs no longer cover.
  
  

The transition marks a critical phase in Maui’s long-term recovery. How well government planning and community collaboration hold up in the next few months will shape the trajectory of rebuilding lives and neighborhoods across the island.

"Contact me for resources or with questions.

Tammy L Robinson (808) 280 6984  ~  tammy@the808team.com  ~  tammy.the808team.com  THE 808 TEAM  ~ KELLER WILLIAMS