Hawaii Senate Bill SR202

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/24
• Refer: 3/14/24
• Refer: 3/20/24
• Report Pass: 4/3/24
• Passed: 4/4/24

Caption

Requesting The Governor, In Collaboration With The County Of Maui, To Provide A Clear Strategy For Addressing The Short And Long-term Housing Needs For Residents Displaced By The August 2023 Maui Wildfires.

Impact

The resolution outlines specific actions that the County of Maui must take to expedite housing development for those affected. These actions include purchasing or condemning property to construct temporary housing, facilitating expedited permitting processes, and identifying existing public housing authority properties that can be utilized for repopulation. The collaboration will involve the evaluation of infrastructure and entitlements required for new housing projects, which will cater to the diverse needs of displaced households, including homeowners and renters of various types of dwelling units.

Summary

Senate Resolution 202 (SR202) requests the Governor of Hawaii to collaborate with the County of Maui in developing a clear strategy to address both short- and long-term housing needs for residents who have been displaced by the catastrophic wildfires that occurred in August 2023. These wildfires have left a significant number of families without homes, exacerbating an already existing housing crisis on the island. The resolution acknowledges the need to support an estimated 1,600 renters among the displaced population, many of whom wish to return to areas close to their original residences.

Contention

While the resolution has garnered support as a necessary measure to alleviate the housing crisis, it also raises discussions about the logistics and effectiveness of its implementation. Notably, the urgency for the Governor and the County of Maui to produce a comprehensive housing strategy by May 31, 2024, is crucial to maximize federal disaster recovery funds. Policymakers and stakeholders may face challenges such as community engagement, funding allocations, and ensuring that the interests of all displaced residents—including those in distinct living situations—are adequately met as they navigate through this recovery effort.