American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern reassured displaced Maui residents on Wednesday that they can remain in hotels until they have access to longer-term housing solutions. 

She emphasized that individuals living in hotels following the Aug. 8 wildfires in Lahaina and Upcountry should contact their Red Cross case manager if they receive any notices asking them to leave the property.

“We’re not kicking people out,” McGovern said at a press conference in Wailuku with county, state and federal officials.

She acknowledged the confusion caused by 48-hour notices that led some survivors to believe they were being evicted from the emergency housing they had secured in the hotels. McGovern clarified that those notices were asking individuals to sign up for a case manager within that time period, but the organization has not required people to leave their hotels who qualify to stay there as an emergency shelter.

“We’re the Red Cross. We don’t do things like that,” she said.

McGovern joined Gov. Josh Green, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen and other officials to provide an update on Maui’s short- and long-term housing and economic recovery plans.

While parts of West Maui officially reopened for tourism on Oct. 8, over 3,000 families remain displaced and over 8,000 individuals are unemployed following the August wildfires.

Bissen said the county will take the lead on creating permanent housing for displaced residents, adding that the government is providing incentives for current homeowners to open up spaces to those affected by the fires.

He cited Maui’s Host Housing Support Program, which provides families up to $1,500 a month ($375 per survivor) for housing displaced individuals, adding that the state could pursue other incentives to encourage owners to convert short-term rentals into long-term rentals. 

“We’re appealing to people’s conscience,” Bissen said. “We’re asking nicely and we’re also offering a financial incentive.” 

Robert Fenton Jr., regional administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said almost 3,300 people have received rental assistance that can be renewed for up to 18 months. He added that the state and federal government is looking into creating more housing options for families, such as modular homes. 

“This is just the beginning,” Fenton said, noting that roughly $1 billion has already been spent on the response to the Maui fires. “We’ll be here until the job gets done, until we get people into safe, stable housing.” 

Green said the number of displaced individuals living in hotels after the fires has dropped from approximately 8,000 to 6,800 people. 

In partnership with the nonprofit Maui Economic Opportunity, the state Department of Human Services has $100 million available for families impacted by the fires, said DHS Deputy Director Joseph Campos. Applications for the funds will open on Friday. 

“We encourage you, if you have been impacted by the wildfires, to please apply,” Campos said. “We do not want you to go without the opportunities that exist.” 

In response to concerns about small businesses struggling to receive financial assistance, $12.5 million in aid will soon be available through MEO, said James Tokioka, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. 

While FEMA primarily focuses on providing aid to residents who have lost their homes, Fenton encouraged business owners to submit a right-of-entry request so debris may be removed from their commercial properties. 

Green recognized that Maui residents are in different stages of healing and recovery, adding that he plans on prioritizing housing and economic recovery as he meets with President Joe Biden and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge next week. 

“We move forward, and we do all that we can,” the governor said. 

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by grants from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.