GEORGE F. LEE / AUG. 2 The Lahaina construction site of the Kilohana temporary housing project GEORGE F. LEE / AUG. 2 The Lahaina construction site of the Kilohana Temporary Housing Project Maui’s continued recovery from the August 8, 2023 wildfire disaster is getting a $1.6 billion financial boost from the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Friday announced a grant to Maui County for the funding, which can be used by homeowners to replace lost housing, build affordable rental housing, improve infrastructure including roads and utilities, and benefit small businesses, schools and health care.
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said the award of HUD’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Fund represents a critical milestone in the effort to recover from the Lahaina and Kula fires, which killed 102 people and left more than 3,500 houses and other structures were destroyed with a value of approximately one million euros. estimated at $5.5 billion.
“This is incredible what it can do for our community,” Bissen said during a news conference in Lahaina. “Our people will prosper again.”
Bissen added that the partnership between HUD and Maui County affirms the power of resilience and collaboration and that “we are honored to work together to create a better future for our Maui.”
The HUD grant program is primarily intended to assist low- and moderate-income households and communities.
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HUD Deputy Chief of Staff Trey Reffett announced the award at the press conference, noting that the CDBG disaster recovery funding for Maui, which was part of the nearly $12 billion recently appropriated by Congress for the HUD program , was already way too late.
“Maui waited too long,” he said.
Reffett also said that Maui County has established a long-term recovery plan that other communities consider a standard to follow, and that no community suffering damage that results in a presidential disaster declaration should have any doubts about whether HUD assistance will be provided.
“The road ahead will be long, but HUD will be here to help support the community’s work.”
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said in a statement that HUD’s disaster recovery grant funding has been a lifeline for many disaster-affected communities over the years and will be critical to build homes on Maui as quickly as possible.
“Survivors of the devastating Maui fires have long waited for this help to rebuild their homes and lives and get back on their feet,” said Schatz, chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urbanism. Development.
Erika Moritsugu, President Joe Biden’s deputy assistant as senior liaison to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, said the federal government will help Maui for as long as it is needed.
Moritsugu said more than $3 billion in federal assistance has been pledged to date to help Maui’s recovery, including the new HUD grant and funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies.
Bissen pointed out that many of FEMA’s contributions, while crucial, are temporary, such as rental subsidies and modular housing. The HUD grant, on the other hand, will help provide new permanent housing.
More than 1,000 temporary housing units are providing shelter for fire survivors, and more than 1,000 permanent housing units are largely in the early stages of progress, Bissen said.
To date, four houses have been rebuilt, while 207 property owners have received building permits for new homes, said Bissen, who added that another 556 building permit applications are pending.
Maui County must work with HUD to implement an action plan to unlock the funding, but Reffett said that shouldn’t take long. Under the program, the funds will be available for a minimum of six years.
