The Maui News
Maui United Way’s Emergency Financial Assistance program has received more than 7,000 unique individual requests for financial help, the agency said on Wednesday.
The program offered a one-time $1,000 financial assistance payment, not to exceed $5,000 per household, for adult fire survivors living in the impacted fire zones in Lahaina and Kula.
The program was made possible by donations from local residents, the Mainland and the world, according to a news release from the nonprofit.
The first round of payment notifications was issued Tuesday evening and will continue over the next seven to 10 days.
“We know that every day matters to these folks, but we must conduct due diligence to ensure the funds are going to those living in the fire impact zones. We are working as fast as we can,” said Maui United Way President Nicholas Winfrey.
Maui United Way accepted applications for more than 10 days via their website, as well as through in-person outreach events in Lahaina where staff helped individuals fill out the request form in person, and over the phone. The number of applications received is comparable to population data, Maui United Way said.
Applications are processed in the order received. Maui United Way said it is processing applications as quickly as possible while ensuring it undergoes a thorough vetting process.
Approved applicants will receive an email from a digital payment company called Tremendous. Payment options and information will be collected by Tremendous on their secure website.
Once residents submit their payment option to Tremendous, they should allow one to three days until the payment is received, depending on the option they select. A direct payment to the bank, for example, is subject to the bank’s processing time.
Individuals requesting a physical payment card can expect to receive the link from Tremendous with instructions on how to pick up their physical payment card within 10 to 14 days of submitting their request.
Maui United Way said it has closed applications for assistance so that it can now focus on expanding the ways that it is providing needed relief to impacted individuals and communities.
The nonprofit encourages residents who need assistance to call the 211 information and referral helpline. Operating seven days a week between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., the Aloha United Way 211 line connects fire-impacted residents with a live and local community resource specialist who can refer them to essential services and information.
Beyond direct financial assistance, Maui United Way has approved 18 grants to nonprofit partners offering direct relief to impacted families, including:
• Locally grown food provided by Maui’s farmers.
• Transportation for those who have had their vehicles destroyed.
• Mortgage and insurance assistance.
• Help replacing identification lost in the fires.
• Crisis counseling.
• Child care services and health care, including from Native Hawaiian practitioners.
Maui United Way has other plans in the works for providing relief to fire-impacted communities.
“We know the road is a long one and we want to light the way as much as we can. We have to do more,” said Winfrey.
For more information about Maui United Way, how to help or future programming, email relief@mauiunitedway.org.
For questions about a pending application for emergency financial assistance, email mauirelief@auw.org.
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