COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
OPENING OF THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM WAITING LIST
The County of Hawai’i, Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) will open the Waiting List for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8):
August 1, 2025, 9:00 AM HST
(Waiting List will remain open until further notice)
Applications must be completed and submitted electronically through OHCD’s online application portal, accessible with any computer or smartphone with internet access at:
www.hawaiicounty.gov/waitlist
There is no cost to apply. Only one application per family allowed on the waiting list.
If you have a disability or a barrier to completing the online application, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting OHCD at (808) 959-4642.
What are Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV)?
OHCD administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program with federal funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and provides rental assistance to eligible families, including elderly and disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market.
An eligible family is responsible for finding a suitable rental where the owner agrees to participate in the program. The OHCD pays a housing subsidy directly to a landlord on behalf of the participating family. The chosen rental must meet federal health and safety standards as well as local housing requirements. The family is responsible for paying the difference between the approved contract rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.
Homeownership Option Program (HOP)
If authorized by OHCD, a family may utilize its voucher to assist with subsidy toward monthly mortgage payments when purchasing a modest home.
Am I eligible for rental assistance?
The OHCD determines eligibility based on the total gross household income and family size. Eligibility is limited to US citizens and specific categories of non-citizens with eligible immigration status. In general, a household’s income may not exceed 80 percent of the median income for Hawaii County. In accordance with federal regulations, OHCD must provide 75 percent of its vouchers to applicants whose income do not exceed 30 percent of the area median income.
Income Limits
(Effective 4/1/2025 – 3/31/2026)
Area Median Family Income (AMI) $98,800
Gross Annual Income must be at or below:
Number of
Household
Members 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Extremely Low
(30% of Median) $25,400 $29,000 $32,650 $36,980 $43,310 $49,640 $55,970 $62,300
Very Low
(50% of Median) $42,350 $48,400 $54,450 $60,450 $65,300 $70,150 $75,000 $79,800
Low Income
(80% of Median) $67,700 $77,400 $87,050 $96,700 $104,450 $112,200 $119,950 $127,650
Waiting List
The date and time an application is submitted determines it’s placement on the waiting list, taking into consideration Local Preferences below.
Local Preferences (refer to Chapter 4 of our Administrative Plan effective June 1, 2025) The following is the priority order of local preferences for selection from the waiting list:
– Any resident family of the County of Hawaii whose gross annual income is at or below 30%, has at least one (1) minor child under the age of 18 and/or who include an elderly person or a person with a disability, and a valid lease agreement with a landlord that agrees to participate in the HCV program will be given the highest priority.
– The following categories will be treated equally with the highest priority:
Applicants who are experiencing an emergency, (homeless or involuntarily displaced),
Families whose assistance had been terminated from its HCV program due to insufficient funding, and
Specific special purpose voucher participants who qualify to “move up”.
– Next, any resident family of the State or County of Hawaii whose gross annual income is at or below 30%, has at least one (1) minor child under the age of 18 and/or who include an elderly person or a person with a disability.
OHCD will verify all claimed local preferences. Families who qualify for a local preference will receive priority on the waiting list over those who do not meet the specified criteria.
Portability of Voucher
Pursuant to PHA policy, if neither the head of household nor the spouse/cohead of an applicant family had a legal residence within the PHA’s jurisdiction at the time the initial application for assistance was submitted, the family is required to lease a unit within the initial PHA’s jurisdiction for a minimum of 12 months before requesting portability. Exceptions to this policy is subject to the approval of the receiving PHA [24 CFR 982.353(c)(3)].
Housing Assistance is Not Guaranteed
The screening process begins when OHCD selects an applicant family from the waiting list. The screening process includes an interview with applicant, collection of supporting documentation of family income, assets, and family composition; and verification of all provided information. The screening process determines program eligibility and the amount of rental subsidy assistance.
The County of Hawai`i does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, familial status, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity expression, or HIV status.
(HTH1499090 7/14/25)
