Resident describes barriers to rental assistance, limited options after temporary campground stay

Peter Bard, who said he has been homeless since the winter and identified himself as an indirectly fire‑affected resident, told the Budget Committee he has been unable to secure rental assistance and faces an imminent 14‑day limit at a local campground.

Bard said he submitted applications for rental assistance programs but cited long wait times and complex program rules. He described the rental assistance process he was told about: applicants can wait 90 days, be placed on a list and then, if selected, have seven days to find housing; if they fail, they may have to reapply and return to the back of the list. Bard said Catholic Charities and other nonprofits he contacted had no funds or delayed responses and that the Hawaii Homeowner Housing Program (HIHP) had not responded to his application for about a month.

"We have 2 weeks left at Campo Olowalu, and we don't know what to do after that," Bard said. He asked council staff members at the meeting to follow up and provide contact help; council staff asked him to leave contact information with the clerk's desk for follow‑up.

The testimony described limits in local shelter and campground duration and urged better coordination of rental assistance, outreach and emergency housing options for indirectly fire‑affected residents. No formal council action was taken during public testimony.