Hilo, Hawaiʻi – The County of Hawaiʻi Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) has announced that its Waiting List for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) will open on August 1, 2025, at 9:00 AM HST. The waiting list will remain open until further notice.
Applications must be completed and submitted electronically through OHCD’s online application portal. This portal can be accessed using any computer or smartphone with internet access at www.hawaiicounty.gov/waitlist. There is no cost to apply, and only one application per family is allowed on the waiting list. For individuals with a disability or a barrier to completing the online application, reasonable accommodations can be requested by contacting OHCD at (808) 959-4642.
About the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program: The OHCD administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program, utilizing federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This program provides rental assistance to eligible low-income families, including elderly and disabled individuals, to help them afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market.
Participating families are responsible for finding a suitable rental unit where the owner agrees to participate in the program. The OHCD then pays a housing subsidy directly to the landlord on behalf of the family, with the family paying the difference between the approved contract rent and the subsidized amount. All chosen rentals must meet federal health and safety standards as well as local housing requirements.
The program also offers a Homeownership Option Program (HOP), allowing authorized families to utilize their voucher to assist with monthly mortgage payments when purchasing a modest home.
Eligibility for Rental Assistance: Eligibility for rental assistance is determined based on the total gross household income and family size. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens and specific categories of non-citizens with eligible immigration status. Generally, a household’s income may not exceed 80 percent of the median income for Hawaiʻi County. In accordance with federal regulations, OHCD must provide 75 percent of its vouchers to applicants whose income does not exceed 30 percent of the area median income.
Current Income Limits (Effective 4/1/2025 – 3/31/2026) for Hawaiʻi County (Area Median Family Income: $98,800):
| 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 and Local Preferences: Placement on the waiting list is determined by the date and time an application is submitted, with priority given based on specific “Local Preferences” outlined in Chapter 4 of OHCD’s Administrative Plan (effective June 1, 2025). The highest priority will be given to:
- Any resident family of Hawaiʻi County whose gross annual income is at or below 30%, has at least one minor child under 18 and/or includes an elderly or disabled person, and has a valid lease agreement with a participating landlord.
- Applicants experiencing an emergency (homeless or involuntarily displaced).
- Families whose assistance was terminated due to insufficient funding.
- Specific special purpose voucher participants who qualify to “move up.”
OHCD will verify all claimed local preferences, and qualifying families will receive priority on the waiting list.
Portability of Vouchers: If neither the head of household nor the spouse/cohead had a legal residence within OHCD’s jurisdiction at the time of initial application, the family is generally required to lease a unit within Hawaiʻi County for a minimum of 12 months before requesting portability to another Public Housing Agency (PHA). Exceptions are subject to approval by the receiving PHA.
Housing Assistance Not Guaranteed: The screening process begins when OHCD selects an applicant family from the waiting list. This includes interviews, documentation collection (income, assets, family composition), and verification of all provided information to determine program eligibility and the rental subsidy amount. Housing assistance is not guaranteed simply by applying.
The County of Hawaiʻi affirms that it does not discriminate against any person based on race, color, religion, familial status, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity expression, or HIV status.