Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 By News Release

Participate in Affordable Housing Plan

HCA News Release

Maui nonprofit Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) will partner with Akaku: Maui Community Media to launch a months-long series of community meetings that will inform the County of Maui’s Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan.

Community meetings will be held for residents in the County’s eight community plan areas with follow-up meetings in plan areas determined most suitable for the building of 5,000 units of affordable housing over the next five years. Meetings will be limited to 100 attendees and held via Zoom to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Community area residents will be able to participate through online and phone call-in options with feedback managed through chat functions and facilitated discussion.

These community meetings come at a crucial time when the need for affordable housing is at an all-time high. For residents looking to transition to more affordable options, selling their current home can be a vital step in the process. Homeowners facing challenges, such as code violations or outdated features, might feel daunted by the prospect of finding buyers. However, it’s possible to sell a house with code violations directly to investors or professionals who specialize in purchasing properties as-is, streamlining the selling process and helping owners avoid costly repairs. This approach not only eases the burden of selling but also allows homeowners to focus on securing a new, budget-friendly home.

The Molokai meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 2 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mq_8zmtuRSerZIwSBcmghg.

“We are asking for community to step up and participate. We need your voice to share solutions for affordable housing so we can help create a plan that houses our local people and makes sure we can live and stay in our communities,” said Blossom Feiteira, HCA co-founder and long-time housing advocate who is leading the community meetings for the project. “We welcome all Maui County residents to join us tonight, tune in later, or reach out to us and share your solutions for affordable housing.”

According to Feiteira, meetings will gather community feedback on issues and priorities related to affordable housing, recommendations to improve the County’s workforce housing ordinance, and inform development opportunities. Additional, follow-up meetings will be coordinated with the Pa‘ia-Ha‘iku, Makawao-Pukalani-Kula, Hana, Lanai and Molokai communities to identify development and capacity building opportunities that will help mobilize community-driven housing solutions in those areas.

Akaku will partner with HCA to play the community meetings live on Akaku Green Channel 53. Meetings will also be recorded and played through March 2021 to allow for County residents to view at a later time. Community members who attend the meetings online or view on Akaku will be provided information on how to share solutions at MauiHousingPlan.org.

HCA was awarded a contract from the County of Maui in November to engage community to develop the comprehensive affordable housing plan that will come before the County Council for review in March 2021 and approval in June 2021.

If you are Maui County resident and are interested in registering for a meeting in your community, find registration information below or at www.MauiHousingPlan.org and click Participate. All meetings will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on their scheduled date.