๐ฉ๐ผ๐น๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ Buyout Program For The 2018 Eruption Starts April 30th
๐๐ช๐ณ๐ด๐ต ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ข๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ณ๐บ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ๐ด Press Release - The County of Hawaiโi will begin accepting applications for the first of three phases of the Kฤซlauea Disaster Recovery Voluntary Housing Buyout Program (VHBP) on April 30. Phase 1 addresses properties that were used as a primary residence at the time of the 2018 eruption. Eligible properties for the VHBP must have been impacted by the disaster, whether by inundation or isolation, damage by fires caused by lava, or secondary effects of volcanic activity, such as heating or gases. Applicants must have owned the property at the time of the eruption. The following is the application timeline for the three phases: Phase 1 (primary residences) April 30, 2021, through July 30, 2021 Phase 2 (secondary residences) Nov. 1, 2021, through Jan. 31, 2022 Phase 3 (undeveloped properties) May 2, 2022, through July 29, 2022 Phasing is based on use of the property at the time of the eruption. Late applications will be processed during subsequent phases. Time between each phaseโs application period will be used by staff to process applications and submit buyout offers to qualifying applicants. The application form can be downloaded from the Countyโs Kฤซlauea recovery website โ recovery.hawaiicounty.gov โ starting April 30. Applications submitted before the appropriate phase start date wonโt be accepted. Applicants in need of a paper copy can contact the Kฤซlauea Disaster Recovery Division at (808) 961-8996 or kilaueabuyout@hawaiicounty.gov. The VHBP is funded with an allocation of $83.84 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developmentโs (HUD) Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. Buyout offers will be based on the 2017 pre-eruption assessed market value with a limit of $230,000. The VHBP received strong support from residents who responded to the Countyโs Kฤซlauea Recovery Housing Survey. In total, more than 800 people completed the survey, with 77% reporting they are interested in a buyout as at least one of their options. A large majority of respondents (87%) said their property was inundated by lava; 34% received an insurance payout. The 2018 eruption on Kฤซlaueaโs Lower East Rift Zone destroyed 612 homes, including 294 primary residences. โThe 2018 eruption upended the lives of lower Puna residents, and many who lost a home are still needing help with finding secure, permanent housing,โ said Douglas Le, the Countyโs Kฤซlauea disaster recovery officer. โThis federally-funded program will help them get back on their feet and address an urgent need following the disaster while reducing risks from future eruptions.โ Applications from households that are low- to moderate-income will be given priority, although households of all income ranges are eligible to apply for this assistance. Acquired properties will be managed as open space, as required by HUD. Limited agricultural uses may be allowed. Additionally, the County is starting a Housing Relocation Services Program (HRSP), also funded by the CDBG-DR grant, on April 30 that will help income-qualified residents who were displaced by the eruption and do not have secure, permanent housing. Both property owners and long-term renters who were displaced by the 2018 eruption are eligible for this program. Services with HRSP include identifying rental properties, or properties for purchase, and providing financial assistance for costs to secure permanent housing, including security deposits for rentals and partial down payment assistance.