HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Gov. Josh Green joined other state and county leaders Tuesday for a groundbreaking ceremony on a $115 million housing project to help 450 households for up to five years.
The prefabricated, “interim” housing is seen as a way to get people out of short-term accomodations.
“Eight months and three weeks ago, we suffered a tragedy” as flames tore through Lahaina, said Gov. Josh Green, at the groundbreaking ceremony. “We lost loved ones. We had 13,000 of our people displaced.”
“Today, we see where the next iteration of homes will be.”
The Ka Lai Ola housing development will sit on 54 acres and is geared toward families who are not eligible for FEMA housing aid. The state pitched in $75 million for the project while the rest came from private sources.
Officials said applications for homes will open in June and the first homes will be move-in ready by August.
Studios to three-bedroom units will be available.
Later on Tuesday, Green will hold a second news conference on a separate housing announcement.
The governor is highlighting efforts to bolster housing availability on Maui as hundreds of wildfire survivors remain in short-term housing, including hotels.
The Lahaina disaster was the worst wildfire in the US in more than a century, claiming 101 lives.
In the wake of the wildfires, Maui’s economy was thrown into recession and thousands of residents from the island have left for elsewhere in the state or moved to the continent amid skyrocketing rents.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Governor, Maui mayor mark groundbreaking for $115M 'interim' housing project for wildfire survivors – Hawaii News Now
Leave a comment