25+ Military, Federal, State & Nonprofit Programs
"Understanding Makes All the Difference."™
For: Active duty, retired Navy/Marine Corps, Reservists, survivors
Emergency financial assistance with interest-free loans and grants for rent, utilities, food, emergency travel, medical/dental bills, car repairs, and other immediate needs.
For: Active duty Soldiers, retirees, survivors, Guard/Reserve on Title 10 orders
Zero-interest loans and grants for basic needs, housing, emergency travel, medical/dental, and more. Assisted 28,000+ Soldiers in 2025.
For: Active duty, retired, Guard, Reserve Airmen/Guardians
Emergency financial assistance with no-interest loans and grants. Falcon Loans up to $1,000 for immediate needs.
For: Veterans Affairs (VA) loan holders (active duty, veterans, survivors, Reservists, Guard)
No-interest, no-monthly-payment second lien to bring loan current. VA advances funds, repaid only when you sell/refinance/transfer home. Max 25% of unpaid balance (30% if COVID-era arrears).
Finance purchase or refinance of a home plus necessary repairs through a single mortgage. (HUD - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)
For: Homeowners and renters affected by a federally declared disaster (wildfire, hurricane, flooding, storms, etc.)
Grants and assistance for emergency housing, temporary shelter, home repairs, and other disaster-related needs. Available programs and local shelters change with each disaster — check the current declaration for your island. (FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency)
For: Families with dependent children OR third-trimester pregnant person experiencing financial hardship
Up to 4 months of financial assistance with payments made directly to landlord, mortgage lender, or utility provider. (TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
Competitive, below-market mortgage rates for eligible first-time homebuyers, with down-payment assistance available. (HHFDC - Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation)
Rates and terms change periodically — ask HHFDC for the current program details.
Status update: Hawaiʻi's federally funded HAF program is no longer accepting applications — the statewide funds (which had covered mortgage reinstatement, property taxes, utilities, and other housing costs) have been fully committed, along with most HAF programs nationwide.
If you are a Native Hawaiian homestead lessee: the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands received a separate HAF allocation — contact DHHL to ask whether help is still available.
HOME Investment Partnership, Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and other homeownership programs
Multiple programs for families, individuals, and seniors facing housing crisis.
State Homeless Emergency Grants (SHEG): Rental assistance, security deposits, utility help
Hawaiʻi Relief Program: Up to 4 months housing/utility assistance (with Department of Human Services)
Housing Assistance Programs: Emergency financial assistance, transitional housing, case management
Emergency assistance for families and individuals in financial crisis.
Utility & Rental Assistance: Emergency help with rent and utilities
Community Assistance Center: Food, clothing, hygiene kits, case management
Pathway of Hope: Long-term support for families breaking poverty cycle
Statewide resource connection service linking residents to 4,000+ local programs.
Trained specialists help you find housing assistance, financial help, food, utilities, childcare, and more based on your location and specific needs.
Foreclosure prevention and rental counseling for homeowners and renters in distress.
Program changes: Federal, state, and nonprofit programs update frequently. What's available today may change.
Multiple applications: If you qualify for multiple programs, apply to each. You may get assistance from more than one source.
Timeline varies: Some programs process quickly (days), others take weeks. Start applying as soon as possible.
Legal help: For housing and foreclosure legal guidance, contact Volunteer Legal Services Hawai'i (808-528-7046) or the Hawai'i State Bar Lawyer Referral Service (808-537-9140 — many attorneys offer a free first consultation). Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi (808-536-4302) — Elder Law Services only (seniors 60+): Advance Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, and Simple Wills. They do not handle housing or foreclosure legal matters.
About free legal help in Hawai'i: Truly free legal representation for housing matters is very limited. Most free resources provide legal information or referrals — not an attorney who will represent you. The Hawai'i State Bar Lawyer Referral Service (808-537-9140) is the most reliable path to a licensed attorney; many offer a free first consultation.
Free online self-help platform built by Legal Aid Society of Hawai'i. Use it to understand your legal situation, get a guided action plan, access court forms, and find the right organizations. Provides legal information, not legal advice or representation.
legalnavigatorhawaii.orgHUD-approved nonprofit — free counseling on grant programs and financial assistance options for Hawaiʻi homeowners.
808-523-9500 · hihomeownership.orgElder Law Services — for seniors age 60+ only. Legal Aid's Elder Law Services program offers free advance planning documents for qualifying residents age 60 and over: Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD), Power of Attorney for Financial Decisions, and Simple Wills. This program does not cover housing, foreclosure, benefits, or other legal matters. For housing and foreclosure legal help, use Volunteer Legal Services Hawai'i or the Hawai'i State Bar Lawyer Referral Service (see below).
808-536-4302 (O'ahu) · 1-800-499-4302 (Neighbor Islands) · legalaidhawaii.orgFree civil legal help for qualifying low-income O'ahu residents — covers housing, landlord-tenant, bankruptcy, estate planning, and veterans benefits. Apply online or call for intake.
808-528-7046 (O'ahu) · 1-800-839-5200 (Neighbor Islands) · vlsh.orgGet matched with a licensed Hawai'i attorney in your area of need. Many attorneys offer a free or reduced-fee first consultation. Available Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
808-537-9140 · hawaiilawyerreferral.comFind a HUD-approved housing counselor near you for free guidance on grants, loans, and homeowner assistance programs.
HUD Counselor FinderUnsure which programs you qualify for or how to apply? Barbara can help you understand what applies to your specific situation — and connect you with the right resources.
Contact Barbara →"Informed Decisions are the Best Decisions."™
Barbara Coote is a licensed Hawaiʻi REALTOR® and investor. Hawaiʻi Home Advocates provides free homeowner education — not legal or financial advice. No compensation is received for referrals.