Honorable Members of the Maui County Council Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee
I am writing to express strong opposition to Bill 34, which proposes the allocation of funds for housing projects in central Maui.
As a concerned resident and advocate for the sustainable development of our community, I urge the council to consider the process by which the administration chose these housing projects in central Maui and did not take into consideration pressing needs that exist elsewhere in the county – specifically in West Maui.
The current landscape, both at the county and state levels, underscores the challenging fiscal circumstances, with assertions of limited financial resources.
Against this backdrop, it becomes paramount to scrutinize the allocation of funds and ensure that they are channeled towards addressing the most critical needs of our community.
It is essential to question whether it is judicious to commit $24 million to housing projects in central Maui when the greatest community need lies in providing long-term housing solutions for the residents of West Maui, many of whom are still displaced post-fire with no stable housing solutions.
With approximately 87% of Lāhainā residents being displaced by the fire being renters, and grappling with the challenges of securing stable housing, it is evident that addressing this issue for West Maui should be of utmost priority for the council and the broader community.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I trust that the council will consider the profound impact of this decision for the well-being and prosperity of our community.
I am writing on behalf of Maui-founded nonprofit, Hawaii Community Lending, Inc (HCL), to STRONGLY SUPPORT the Hale Pilina Family Rental Housing Project, its requested revisions, and necessary funding.
The project was identified as a priority project in the Maui County Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan and will deliver 178 affordable rental housing units Maui residents so desperately need. The Council has received testimony showing overwhelming support for the project and moved to approve the project under chapter 2.97, as a 100% affordable housing project, in November 2021.
Under the improved site plan, the project seeks to increase the number of 2 bedroom apartments to better accommodate our larger families who often struggle to find rentals because of their household size. At the same time additional parking spaces have been added. Finally, the project will increase access to critical social services for the community by expanding from 1 multi-purposes room to dedicate 2 buildings for multi-purpose use.
Please take action to support the Hale Pilina Family Rental Housing Project and requested revisions. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at 808.587.7653 or jeff@hawaiiancommunity.net.
Jeff Gilbreath
Executive Director
Hawaii Community Lending
Lahaina town needed affordable housing for decades. Our town so beloved yet so neglected all the 60 years of my life. Please choose Lahaina we have been neglected too long,
Do the best you can
Please prioritize housing in West Maui. There was already a housing crisis before the Lahaina fire, now it is even worse. People are leaving the island and the state. When that happens, the workforce and the workplace suffers. Please do what is right. Lahaina residents need affordable housing.
We need more affordable housing here on the west side. That's something that has been needed for years. Without the housing, you might as well close up all of the hotels here. If we can't afford to to live here, they'll be no one to work the hotels and retail stores. People won't be able to afford to commute back and forth from the other side on a daily basis especially since the pay rates here are at an undesirable rate, and let's mention the price for food, it's ridiculous. We're being raked over the coals with the prices. Do something about that too.
Build housing on Hawaiian Homelands on West Side. The land is there and getting our Hawaiian ohana in housing on their own land will ease the housing crisis for the entire island.
Although affordable housing is needed island wide, I am opposed to any projects being built outside of Lahaina. We need to malama our Ohana who lived in Lahaina and have keiki who attend Lahaina schools. First and foremost! With over 4K survivors still residing in non aggregate shelter, Lahaina should be top priority!
Honorable Members of the Maui County Council Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee
I am writing to express strong opposition to Bill 34, which proposes the allocation of funds for housing projects in central Maui.
As a concerned resident and advocate for the sustainable development of our community, I urge the council to consider the process by which the administration chose these housing projects in central Maui and did not take into consideration pressing needs that exist elsewhere in the county – specifically in West Maui.
The current landscape, both at the county and state levels, underscores the challenging fiscal circumstances, with assertions of limited financial resources.
Against this backdrop, it becomes paramount to scrutinize the allocation of funds and ensure that they are channeled towards addressing the most critical needs of our community.
It is essential to question whether it is judicious to commit $24 million to housing projects in central Maui when the greatest community need lies in providing long-term housing solutions for the residents of West Maui, many of whom are still displaced post-fire with no stable housing solutions.
With approximately 87% of Lāhainā residents being displaced by the fire being renters, and grappling with the challenges of securing stable housing, it is evident that addressing this issue for West Maui should be of utmost priority for the council and the broader community.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I trust that the council will consider the profound impact of this decision for the well-being and prosperity of our community.
Aloha Councilmembers,
I am writing on behalf of Maui-founded nonprofit, Hawaii Community Lending, Inc (HCL), to STRONGLY SUPPORT the Hale Pilina Family Rental Housing Project, its requested revisions, and necessary funding.
The project was identified as a priority project in the Maui County Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan and will deliver 178 affordable rental housing units Maui residents so desperately need. The Council has received testimony showing overwhelming support for the project and moved to approve the project under chapter 2.97, as a 100% affordable housing project, in November 2021.
Under the improved site plan, the project seeks to increase the number of 2 bedroom apartments to better accommodate our larger families who often struggle to find rentals because of their household size. At the same time additional parking spaces have been added. Finally, the project will increase access to critical social services for the community by expanding from 1 multi-purposes room to dedicate 2 buildings for multi-purpose use.
Please take action to support the Hale Pilina Family Rental Housing Project and requested revisions. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at 808.587.7653 or jeff@hawaiiancommunity.net.
Jeff Gilbreath
Executive Director
Hawaii Community Lending
Take care of West Maui first.
I support this affordable housing project in Kahului. Yes, we also need housing in Lahaina, but we need affordable housing everywhere.
Lahaina town needed affordable housing for decades. Our town so beloved yet so neglected all the 60 years of my life. Please choose Lahaina we have been neglected too long,
Do the best you can
Please prioritize housing in West Maui. There was already a housing crisis before the Lahaina fire, now it is even worse. People are leaving the island and the state. When that happens, the workforce and the workplace suffers. Please do what is right. Lahaina residents need affordable housing.
We need more affordable housing here on the west side. That's something that has been needed for years. Without the housing, you might as well close up all of the hotels here. If we can't afford to to live here, they'll be no one to work the hotels and retail stores. People won't be able to afford to commute back and forth from the other side on a daily basis especially since the pay rates here are at an undesirable rate, and let's mention the price for food, it's ridiculous. We're being raked over the coals with the prices. Do something about that too.
Build housing on Hawaiian Homelands on West Side. The land is there and getting our Hawaiian ohana in housing on their own land will ease the housing crisis for the entire island.
I support County of Maui funding for Hale Pilina.
I support this affordable housing project. We need it yesterday.
I oppose this.
I support affordable housing, we need it Island wide!
Although affordable housing is needed island wide, I am opposed to any projects being built outside of Lahaina. We need to malama our Ohana who lived in Lahaina and have keiki who attend Lahaina schools. First and foremost! With over 4K survivors still residing in non aggregate shelter, Lahaina should be top priority!
Until west Maui residents have along term housing .. till after FEMA runs out
West side needs to be a priority first. Most residents are renters and would like to continue living on the Westside.
strong support to kokua the housing crisis with the funding for Hale Pilina project !