How many housing & financial resources are in Hawaii?

Women's Corner tracks 15 housing & financial resources for women in Hawaii.

Are housing & financial resources in Hawaii free?

15 of the 15 listed housing & financial resources in Hawaii are explicitly free or low-cost.

Which cities in Hawaii have housing & financial resources?

Listings span cities including Honolulu.

What are some examples of housing & financial resources in Hawaii?

Featured entries include Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation, Hawaii DHS — Financial Assistance, Habitat for Humanity Hawaii, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, IHS (Institute for Human Services) — Honolulu.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

7 of 15 Hawaii housing & financial listings include phone numbers.

How long is the Section 8 waitlist?

It varies wildly — a few months in smaller markets, 5+ years in cities like LA, NYC, and DC. Apply to multiple Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in your region. PHAs give preference to families with children, domestic violence survivors, veterans, and homeless applicants — make sure you check every preference box you qualify for.

211 is a free, 24/7 nationwide referral line run by United Way. Call or text 211 to reach a live specialist who connects you to local rent assistance, utility help, food, childcare, transportation, and emergency funds. They know the small local funds Google won't show you. Always start here in a financial emergency.

Can I get TANF as a single mother?

Yes — TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is the main cash assistance program for low-income parents with minor children. Apply through your state's Department of Human/Social Services. Benefits, time limits, and work requirements vary by state. You can receive TANF and SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, and childcare assistance simultaneously.

What if I'm being evicted?

Call 211 and your local legal aid office the same day you're served — most states have Emergency Rental Assistance programs through the LIHEAP/ERA pipeline that can pay back rent. You have the right to a court hearing before eviction — don't move out before the hearing. DV survivors have additional protections under VAWA that block eviction based on the abuse.

Best Housing & Financial in Hawaii — 15 resources

About Housing & Financial for Women

Housing and financial assistance for women combines federal programs (HUD, TANF, SNAP, LIHEAP) with state and local efforts. Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing are administered by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), with VAWA giving survivors of domestic violence priority and emergency transfer rights. Emergency shelter and rapid rehousing run through HUD's Continuum of Care and Coordinated Entry. Mothers with custodial children typically qualify for TANF cash assistance and family-priority housing. Community action agencies and 211 lines coordinate utility help, emergency funds, and rent assistance. This directory covers PHAs, shelter systems, 211 referral lines, and community action agencies.

Housing & Financial in Hawaii

Hawaii's Family Court is a division of the Circuit Court and operates in each of its four judicial circuits (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Kauai). The Child Support Enforcement Agency operates under the Attorney General. Honolulu is the largest population center. Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence serve women.

15 Resources

1. Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation — Free

HHFDC is the state agency that develops and finances affordable rental and for-sale housing across the islands, from Honolulu's high-rise projects to neighbor island leasehold communities. The Queen Street office at 808-587-0640 can connect a mother to current lottery openings, Hula Mae mortgage program eligibility, and project waitlists. Open weekdays 7:45am to 4:30pm.

808-587-0640 · 677 Queen St Suite 300, Honolulu, HI 96813 · Mon-Fri 7:45am-4:30pm · Visit Website

2. Hawaii DHS — Financial Assistance — Free

Hawaii DHS administers TANF (called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families in Hawaii), General Assistance, and emergency cash help through the BESSD branch. Call 808-586-5230 weekdays 7:45am to 4:30pm to start an application or locate the closest eligibility office on any island. Bring photo ID, proof of income, lease, and any utility shut-off notices.

808-586-5230 · Statewide Offices · Mon-Fri 7:45am-4:30pm · Visit Website

3. Habitat for Humanity Hawaii — Free

Habitat for Humanity affiliates across Hawaii — including Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii Island, and Leeward Oahu — build affordable homes and run critical home repair programs for low-income working families, with priority given to single mothers and kupuna. The Union Mall office at 808-538-7070 takes preliminary inquiries weekdays 8am to 5pm. Sweat-equity hours and an affordable mortgage are part of every Habitat partnership.

808-538-7070 · 1136 Union Mall Suite 510, Honolulu, HI 96813 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

4. Hawaii Public Housing Authority — Free

HPHA administers state-owned public housing properties and the federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program for Hawaii. The N. School Street headquarters at 808-832-5960 maintains the waitlist applications for both programs. Open weekdays 7:45am to 4:30pm. Bring photo ID, Social Security cards for everyone in the household, proof of income, and citizenship or eligible immigration status documentation.

808-832-5960 · 1002 N School St, Honolulu, HI 96817 · Mon-Fri 7:45am-4:30pm · Visit Website

5. IHS (Institute for Human Services) — Honolulu — Free

IHS operates Honolulu's largest emergency shelters for women and families and the Kaaahi Women's Shelter on Sumner Street, along with outreach teams that meet unsheltered mothers where they are. The intake line at 808-546-2255 is staffed 24/7. Walk-in shelter screenings happen multiple times a day. Free; no income paperwork required for emergency shelter.

808-546-2255 · 350 Sumner St, Honolulu, HI 96817 · 24/7 · Visit Website

6. Catholic Charities Hawaii — Housing — Free

Catholic Charities Hawaii at the Keeaumoku Street campus runs rental assistance, eviction prevention, and case management for low-income mothers and families on Oahu and neighbor islands. Call 808-524-4673 weekdays 8am to 4:30pm. Funds are limited and turn over monthly — apply early. Bring photo ID, lease, the eviction or shut-off notice, and proof of income.

808-524-4673 · 1822 Keeaumoku St, Honolulu, HI 96822 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website

7. Family Promise of Hawaii — Free

Family Promise of Hawaii operates the islands' rotating-congregation shelter model for families with children, keeping mothers and kids together rather than separating them into single-adult shelter systems. Honolulu-based; call 808-548-7478 weekdays 8am to 5pm. The program emphasizes case management, savings, and a path to permanent housing rather than long-term shelter dependence.

808-548-7478 · Honolulu, HI · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

8. HUD.gov — Find Local Office — Free

HUD.gov hosts the official locator for the Honolulu HUD field office and explains the federal programs Hawaii agencies administer — Section 8, public housing, Continuum of Care, and Indian Housing Block Grants tied to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Use the site to verify a Hawaii program is properly HUD-certified before paying any fee.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. HUD Homeless Resources — Free

HUD's Continuum of Care portal lists Partners in Care (Oahu), Bridging the Gap (neighbor islands), and the other CoC lead agencies that coordinate Hawaii's homeless services. A mother contacting any one CoC entry point gets routed into the statewide coordinated entry system — meaning a single call can launch the bed search across multiple programs.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. LIHEAP — Energy Assistance — Free

LIHEAP in Hawaii is administered through DHS and helps with HECO electric bills — a serious household expense given Hawaii's electricity costs are the highest in the nation. The federal landing page explains eligibility and links to the Hawaii application. Useful when a mother is choosing between rent, food, and keeping the power on.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Salvation Army — Find Help — Free

Salvation Army operates multiple Hawaii corps including Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului, and Lihue, providing emergency rent and utility help, food pantry, and the residential Family Treatment Services program for mothers in addiction recovery with their children. The national locator shows the closest Hawaii corps and current intake hours.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Catholic Charities USA — Free

Catholic Charities USA is the national body above Catholic Charities Hawaii, useful for mothers relocating between Hawaii and the mainland who want to identify the receiving diocese's services before they move. The site also publishes the annual capacity report showing which Hawaii programs are expanding.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. United Way Worldwide — Free

Aloha United Way — Hawaii's local United Way — administers 211, the financial coaching network, and ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) housing assistance. The national site backs up the local work and helps identify chapters for mothers moving on or off-island.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Habitat for Humanity — Free

Habitat for Humanity International is the national parent of Hawaii's island-by-island affiliates. The national site is the right place to apply for a Habitat home in a specific Hawaii community, learn the sweat-equity requirements, and understand how the affordable mortgage structure works once a family is selected.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Family Promise — Free

Family Promise's national network includes Family Promise of Hawaii — meaning a mother whose Oahu intake is full can be referred through the national network to mainland affiliates if relocation is on the table. The site also coordinates the Welcome Home Kits and graduate networks that follow families after they leave shelter.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many housing & financial resources are in Hawaii?: Women's Corner tracks 15 housing & financial resources for women in Hawaii.
Are housing & financial resources in Hawaii free?: 15 of the 15 listed housing & financial resources in Hawaii are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Hawaii have housing & financial resources?: Listings span cities including Honolulu.
What are some examples of housing & financial resources in Hawaii?: Featured entries include Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation, Hawaii DHS — Financial Assistance, Habitat for Humanity Hawaii, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, IHS (Institute for Human Services) — Honolulu.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 7 of 15 Hawaii housing & financial listings include phone numbers.
How long is the Section 8 waitlist?: It varies wildly — a few months in smaller markets, 5+ years in cities like LA, NYC, and DC. Apply to multiple Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in your region. PHAs give preference to families with children, domestic violence survivors, veterans, and homeless applicants — make sure you check every preference box you qualify for.
What does 211 do?: 211 is a free, 24/7 nationwide referral line run by United Way. Call or text 211 to reach a live specialist who connects you to local rent assistance, utility help, food, childcare, transportation, and emergency funds. They know the small local funds Google won't show you. Always start here in a financial emergency.
Can I get TANF as a single mother?: Yes — TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is the main cash assistance program for low-income parents with minor children. Apply through your state's Department of Human/Social Services. Benefits, time limits, and work requirements vary by state. You can receive TANF and SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, and childcare assistance simultaneously.
What if I'm being evicted?: Call 211 and your local legal aid office the same day you're served — most states have Emergency Rental Assistance programs through the LIHEAP/ERA pipeline that can pay back rent. You have the right to a court hearing before eviction — don't move out before the hearing. DV survivors have additional protections under VAWA that block eviction based on the abuse.