Policy Statements on Affordable Homes

The Maui County Council ordered a Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan (CAHP) with the goal of building 5,000 homes in 5 years. Hawaiian Community Assets was awarded the contract to develop the CAHP, which was forwarded to the Maui County Council on July 19, 2021. The findings of the Plan are that about 85% of the homes needed to be built in Maui County are for individuals and families earning from 0 to 80% of Area Median Income.

Based on the CAHP and SUM board past statements, Stand Up Maui calls for the County of Maui to act on these policies in fiscal years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026:

1. Hire immediately consultants or engage Housing Department staff to evaluate all large parcels of county-owned and county acquirable lands and develop plans to build affordable homes.
2. Design and construct affordable housing projects with timeline and budget like Lima Ola on Kauai.
3. Use bonds to finance these projects and spread their costs over the project’s useful life.
4. Streamline planning and permitting processes to fast-track projects for those earning from 0% to 80% of AMI by hiring private plans checkers.
5. Amend the county real property tax code to produce funds for the Affordable Housing Fund to pay for land purchase, buildings, infrastructure costs and bond amortization.
6. Establish local residency preferences for projects receiving County of Maui subsidies.
7. Ensure that affordable homes built with County funds are rented or sold to Maui County residents earning 80% and less of AMI and remain affordable in perpetuity.
8. Establish and maintain safe sleeping areas, open restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and security on publicly or privately owned lands.
9. Create, approve and implement a rental ordinance to help mitigate barriers to housing for low-income residents.
10. Discontinue the practice of sweeps of unhoused residents without first securing housing and wrap around services.
11. Hire a consultant to manage a priority list of residents applying for affordable housing units.
12. Prioritize water allocation to affordable housing projects built to house Maui County individuals and families earning from 0 to 80% AMI.

Stand Up Maui                 Debbie Cabebe

Kelly King                         Maui Economic Opportunity

Rev. John A. H. Tomoso   Maui Tomorrow
Stan Franco                      Share Your Mana
Michael Williams               Lisa Darcy
Vincent Bagoyo                Kula Community Association
Kevin Carney                     Monsignor Terrence Watanabe
Denise Boswell                  John Trella
Jordan Hocker                  Riley Franco
Mandy Trella
Cara Flores
Lucienne de Naie
Dwayne Betsill