FAQ: FEMA’s Primary vs. Secondary Housing Sites

FEMA's Direct Temporary Housing Program provides a variety of interim housing options for wildfire survivors, including modular units known as Alternative Transportable Temporary Housing Units. These units can be placed on a homeowner's lot, known as a "primary" site. Or, the unit may be placed on a vacant "secondary" site that can accommodate two or more of these ATTHUs.

Primary Sites

Q. Who is eligible?

A. Homeowners eligible for Direct Housing may qualify for an Alternative Transportable Temporary Housing unit to be placed on their primary property while their permanent home is being rebuilt.

Q. What are the requirements for eligibility?

A. Property Size: The property must be large enough to accommodate both the temporary housing unit and the home rebuild.

Floodplain Restriction: The damaged home cannot be located in a high-hazard coastal floodplain.

Permissions and Access: The property owner must grant FEMA right-of-entry permissions. The site must allow safe delivery, installation and removal of the unit, and meet local zoning requirements for temporary housing.

Site Preparation: The property must be cleared of debris and other obstacles to allow for the placement of the unit.

Additionally, the household is subject to all normal Direct Housing requirements, including monthly recertification and rent following Feb. 10, 2025, when the initial eligibility period concludes, and the one-year extension period begins.

Q. If I am a homeowner, can I have a unit placed on my property to live in while I rebuild if I am not in the Direct Housing Program? What if my insurance has run out?

A. To be eligible for placement of an Alternative Transportable Temporary Housing Unit on your primary property while you rebuild, you must be part of FEMA's Direct Housing Program. Once your insurance covering temporary disaster housing is exhausted, you should contact FEMA to determine whether you are eligible for additional FEMA assistance. If you are a homeowner with an interim housing need, please contact FEMA. For more information on your options and to check if you might be eligible, please contact the Maui Housing Helpline at 808-784-1600.

Secondary Sites

Q. Who is eligible to lease their property as a secondary site?

A. Property owners with a secondary vacant lot who do not intend to rebuild within the next two to three years may be eligible to lease their property to FEMA.

Additional eligibility requirements include:

Property Size: The property must meet lot size requirements to accommodate two or more units.

Floodplain Restriction: The property cannot be located in a high-hazard coastal floodplain.

Permissions and Access: The property owner must grant FEMA right-of-entry permissions. The site must allow safe delivery, installation, and removal of the unit, and meet local zoning requirements for temporary housing.

Site Preparation: The property must be cleared of debris and other obstacles to allow for the placement of the unit.

Q. If I am leasing my property what are the requirements?

A. Property owners must agree not to rebuild within the next 2-3 years. Throughout the leasing period the property owner may not enter or do anything to the land. Additionally, FEMA will determine the individuals to be housed and property owners may not contact them.

Q. Who is eligible to live on a secondary site?

A. These properties will house individuals and families who were displaced by the August 2023 wildfires that are in FEMA's Direct Housing Program. These individuals will be identified and directly contacted by FEMA.

Q. If I am a property owner, how do I lease my property for a secondary site?

A. Interested property owners should contact FEMA at [email protected]. Selected property owners will be asked to provide FEMA proof of ownership and allow FEMA right-of-entry permissions to deliver, install and remove the Alternative Transportable Temporary Housing Units.

For More Information:

• Individual Assistance Housing Hotline: 808-784-1600
• FEMA Helpline:800-621-3362 Hours: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. HST
• In-Person Support:
  • County of Maui Office of Recovery, West at the Lahaina Gateway, Unit 102-B (near Ace Hardware) located at 325 Keawe St. in Lahaina. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  • Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement's Kāko'o Maui Relief & Aid Services Center located at 70 E. Kaʻahumanu Ave., Unit D-1 in Kahului. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For the latest information on the Maui wildfire recovery efforts, visit mauicounty.gov, mauirecovers.org, fema.gov/disaster/4724 and Hawaii Wildfires - YouTube. Follow FEMA on social media: @FEMARegion9 and facebook.com/fema. You may also get disaster assistance information and download applications at sba.gov/hawaii-wildfires.

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