It's looking less likely that Congress will reach a deal to avoid $85 billion in automatic budget cuts by this Friday, which means many in Hawaii are bracing for the fallout.

Including over 3,500 families who receive rental assistance. They are on notice that -- that help could suddenly end.

Marin Tower is just one of the many public housing buildings owned by the city.  It is also one of the places the city sent letters to residents who receive Section 8 housing assistance.

The letters inform renters that if automatic budget cuts take effect their housing assistance may be terminated.

Shawna Jan Allan has a number of friends in the building who received the letter. She worries about what will happen to the woman who just recently started receiving federal assistance.

"She doesn't know where she's going to go. It came as a shock to her and to everyone who got one of those letters," said Allan.

Uncertainty, over the fate of the federal budget is the reason for the letters from the city.

"We're not sure what is going to come out of Washington D.C., and what solutions will come from D.C.," said the Department of Community Services Director Designate Pamela Witty-Oakland.

Witty-Oakland does know that if cuts are made to the federal program, the clock would start ticking before vouchers disappear.

"If we find out on March 1, it would be May 1 before anyone would be without a voucher. It would take 60 days," said Witty-Oakland.