Monthly cash payments could boost disaster survivors. A Maui nonprofit tries it out

After devastating Maui fires, cash assistance offers hope to struggling survivors

Mari Younger once thrived in West Maui’s restaurant industry, living independently in her condo with her beloved cat, Stella. Then came a series of devastating blows – a health emergency forced her to leave her physically demanding job, followed by the catastrophic Lahaina fire that destroyed her community and upended her life.

Two years later, Younger found herself living in a converted hotel room 30 miles from her former home, her weight plummeting to just 89 pounds due to stress, deteriorating health, and limited access to nutritious food.

“I really needed help,” said Younger, 49, whose disability payments couldn’t stretch to cover health insurance, car payments, and adequate food. The devoted pet owner admitted, “I’d rather starve and have her eat,” referring to her cat.

Relief came last December when Younger began receiving $700 monthly through a special Mastercard program for Maui fire survivors. “It’s like the cavalry has shown up,” she said. “The war is not over, but at least there’s more help coming.”

Younger is among 69 households enrolled in an innovative program providing Lahaina fire survivors with monthly cash assistance for one year. The initiative, designed to stabilize the most vulnerable during Maui’s lengthy recovery process, represents a growing trend in disaster response that prioritizes giving survivors direct financial control.

“When we let them choose, it unwinds the trauma and gets them out of survival mode faster,” explained Nicole Huguenin, executive director of Maui Rapid Response, the mutual aid nonprofit administering the program.

The high demand for assistance highlights a persistent challenge in disaster recovery – many survivors continue facing urgent needs years after public attention and funding have diminished.

“The need for long-term recovery is there in every disaster, but very seldom is that funded,” noted Kirsten Trusko, co-founder of Payments as a Lifeline, a financial technology nonprofit advocating for disaster cash assistance.

The importance of effective recovery tools is amplified as climate change drives more frequent extreme weather events. Just this week, Hawaii experienced heavy flooding from a subtropical cyclone that knocked out power for thousands on Maui and caused extensive damage to homes and businesses.

“It’s creating even greater need,” Huguenin observed.

Maui Rapid Response launched the Kahua Card program last year as a six-month pilot to test whether direct cash assistance could help those still struggling after the August 2023 disaster that killed at least 102 people, destroyed 2,200 structures, and displaced 12,000 residents.

While Lahaina’s rebuilding is accelerating, recovery efforts have been complicated by Maui’s pre-existing housing shortage, significant damage to the tourism-dependent economy, and logistical challenges associated with the island’s remote location.

Particularly vulnerable are survivors who were homeless, unbanked, or overwhelmed by other challenges like disabilities or caregiving responsibilities, making it difficult to navigate complex assistance programs.

Younger’s situation exemplifies this dilemma. Though her home didn’t burn, she was effectively displaced when her landlords sold the condo she had rented just north of Lahaina. With post-fire rents doubling, she was forced to move into state-purchased hotel housing for survivors.

Using donations from thousands of supporters, Maui Rapid Response provided 18 pilot households with monthly payments of up to $1,100, depending on family size. Spending data revealed participants primarily used the funds for essentials – food, transportation, utilities, and personal items.

By the pilot’s conclusion, 80% of recipients reported reduced anxiety or stress, attributing improvements to increased control over their lives and ability to help others or spend more time with family. For one-third of participants, the financial stability allowed them to seek better employment opportunities.

“The agency provided a level of mental health benefit that none of us expected,” said Huguenin, noting that it enabled survivors to address other recovery essentials, like relocating or finding work.

The program wasn’t without limitations – more than half of participants still had unmet housing needs when the pilot ended, and fewer than 20% could use the extra income for rent. One-third expressed anxiety about the payments ending.

These outcomes align with broader research on non-disaster cash assistance programs nationwide, according to Dr. Stacia West, co-founder and director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research.

“Largely, what you’re going to see are reductions in food insecurity, and that people are shoring up their finances,” West explained. “They’re making sure that they have a little bit to fall back on.”

For Younger, the impact has been tangible. She’s gained 10 pounds since receiving the Kahua card, primarily purchasing food, supplements, and supplies for her cat. She even tries to buy extra food to help others in need. The assistance has allowed her to allocate other income toward health insurance and reducing debt.

Though money remains tight, the pressure has significantly diminished. The card even provided peace of mind during this week’s power outage, easing concerns about possibly having to replace spoiled groceries.

Sustained cash assistance following disasters remains uncommon, though notable examples exist. Dolly Parton’s foundation provided six months of $1,000 payments to Tennessee fire survivors in 2016, while Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson led an effort in 2023 that gave 8,100 Maui survivors $1,200 monthly for six months.

Huguenin hopes the Kahua Card program can serve as a model for larger organizations. “We want to show it can be done, so those who have more resources than us can take it and really run with it,” she said.

Last year, the Maui County Council approved a $12 million cash assistance program for working households living above the poverty line but still struggling financially.

“If we’re able to alleviate that stress for a year, and provide some space for breathing and strategizing, what are the long-term possibilities of benefits?” asked Jeeyun Lee, CEO of United Way Maui, which will administer the program.

Younger may need to find new housing by August, but she now feels more mentally prepared to plan the move. “I feel like I’m able to get a little more traction,” she said – a small but significant victory in her ongoing recovery journey.