Landlords participating in Kauai County’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program could experience delays in housing assistance payments as the county works to recover from Hurricane Lowell and damage caused by the Sept. 9 fire at the Kapule Building at the Līhuʻe Civic Center.
The Section 8 program, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher program, provides rental assistance to eligible households, with the housing agency paying a portion of the rent directly to participating landlords.
The County of Kauaʻi Housing Agency said timely payments to participating landlords remain a priority and that staff are working to resume normal county operations and distribute payments as quickly as possible.
The agency also reminded landlords and program participants that federal regulations and Housing Assistance Payment contracts protect tenants from being held responsible for the housing authority’s share of rent when payment delays result from disruptions affecting the housing agency.
Section 8 participants are not required to make up the agency’s portion of the rent and cannot be evicted or penalized because of payment delays caused by the storm and fire-related disruptions, the county said.
Participants must continue to pay their required share of rent under their lease agreements and Housing Assistance Payment contracts.
Landlords and participants seeking information about the payment delays can contact the Housing Agency’s Rental Assistance Division at 808-241-4440 or by email at: kauaihcv@kauai.gov.
