US$500m housing plan unveiled to support Maui wildfire victims

This article was first published on RNZ Pacific.

A US$500 million agreement has been announced in Hawaii to create 3000 stable housing units for those displaced by last years' Maui wildfires.

Governor Josh Green and Maui Mayor Richard Bissen joined disaster relief partners and other community leaders in announcing the Maui Interim Housing Plan at Maui Lani on Maui - one of the designated build sites.

"Over 2600 people are still in hotels ... they have been in hotels for five months," Governor Green said.

"We need more stable options in the short term for the next 24 months so that people can live a settled life while we determine permanent solutions," he added.

More than 10,000 people lost their homes when wildfires ripped through West Maui on 8 August.

Since then, Hawaii's government has come under intense pressure and scrutiny to rebuild homes.

Governor Green's administration had already been under pressure to address Hawaii's already existing housing crisis.

As of December, last year, more than 6000 people were living in hotels.

"We all know that it is too challenging to continue to live in hotels," Governor Green said.

"We need to get people into stable housing so they can move on with their lives."

Maui Country Mayor Richard Bissen re-iterated the commitments voiced by Hawaii's Governor, calling it "bold" and "ambitious".

He said Hawaii's government and the various stakeholders were accountable for the successful delivery of the initiative.

"The objectives is to enhance the availability of safe and resilient housing," Mayor Bissen said.

"We want to get people into safe, stable and secure housing... to reinforce the housing infrastructure and increase its resilience.

"We want families to know there is a long-term future for them on Maui-and it starts with providing housing stability right now."

The biggest financial contribution is from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency - an agency covering half of the fund with the other half covered by Hawai'i's state government and various charities such as the HCF/Maui Strong Fund ($50 million); Maui county ($40 million); CNHA/Kakoo Maui Fund ($5 million) and other philanthropic contributions ($5 million).

"In addition to the $250M FEMA is providing for hoteling and rental assistance to individuals, FEMA is currently leasing approximately 1500 units to house survivors and is designing multiple group sites to house up to 500 households in Accessory Dwelling Units," Governor Green said.

"The estimated costs for these efforts total an additional $450m, which greatly enhances our ability to house all who need it.

"This partnership is unprecedented and critical to our collective success as a state."