Housing for Lahaina 

A little over a year ago, in early August 2023, a devastating wildfire swept through the historic Maui town of Lahaina. Strong winds and dry conditions caused the fire to spread rapidly and uncontrollably. All told, more than 100 people lost their lives and roughly 2,000 homes and businesses were destroyed. 

For Governor Josh Green, recovery and rebuilding efforts started the day the fire ignited in Lahaina, and providing reliable housing to families that lost their homes has been a priority for him ever since. 

Less than two weeks after the fires, Governor Green had helped move nearly 8,000 survivors from temporary shelters to more stable short-term housing in local hotels and rental units. From there, the work began to provide longer-term housing to community members while they work to rebuild the town of Lahaina. As crews began to clear the ash and debris from the town, Governor Green made it clear that Lahaina would be rebuilt by its residents, not outside developers looking to reshape the historic area. 

In the months since, Governor Green has helped provide a number of longer-term housing options for residents while Lahaina is being rebuilt. He announced the Maui Interim Housing Program this summer, which has provided rapid and essential housing options to families in need with the goal of opening 3,000 housing units for families. 

In April, Governor Green was on hand to present the keys to the first family who moved into Ke Ao Maluhia at Maui Lani, a community of 50 modular homes built in just a few months to provide housing to families affected by wildfire. 

“This is a day of progress for all of us, but most importantly, for the survivors of the tragic Maui wildfires,” said Governor Green. “Building affordable housing has always been a priority for me, but since August 8 and for our Maui residents in particular, its importance has become even more critical. Presenting actual keys to an ‘ohana today brings hope and healing beyond words.” 

On a nearby hillside, an interim housing community called Ka Laʻi Ola recently welcomed its first families that had been displaced by the fires. The neighborhood is made up of modern modular homes ranging from studios to three-bedrooms. It will contain 450 units by the time it’s completed, and residents will be able to live rent-free through next August. Ka La’I Ola means “The Place of Peaceful Recovery” and it will be a stable place for residents to live after months of instability. 

Governor Green also recently announced the opening of 150 more units at Hale ʻO Lāʻie, which will be offered to residents at no charge for at least 12 months. 

As a result of the Governor’s round-the-clock work with federal and local partners, Green says that 99% of those displaced have now moved into long-term housing, largely through the Maui Interim Housing Program. 

Between federal and state funding, a total of $2.3 billion has gone to the recovery effort, with a significant amount directed to housing initiatives from the Governor. The Maui Recovery Fund, another of Green’s priorities, will exceed $150 million in support for affected families. 

In the town of Lahaina itself, 98% of residential lots have been cleared of debris and ash, and the Governor hopes that the properties will be returned to owners clear of debris and ready for rebuilding months ahead of schedule. 

Already, drinking water has been restored to the town, sewer infrastructure is set to be in place soon, and homes are being rebuilt. Fifty building permits have been issued with hundreds more to follow, and more than 16 homes are actively being rebuilt in Lahaina. 

“Let’s keep the 102 individuals who tragically lost their lives in the fires close to our hearts and in our thoughts. Together, we will continue to rebuild and recover, ensuring a more resilient future for Lahaina and its residents,” said Governor Green on the one-year anniversary of the fires. 

Rebuilding with wildfire survivors in Oregon 

As in Hawaii, wildfires in recent years have destroyed homes and communities in Oregon, with thousands of homes destroyed by fire in the past few years. Devastating wildfires in September 2020 burned more than 4,000 homes and killed 11 people, and fires in subsequent years have caused even more homes to be lost in the state. 

Upon taking office in 2023, Governor Tina Kotek announced that housing would be among her top priorities as Governor, and she quickly called on the state to nearly double the rate at which Oregon adds new housing units. 

Earlier this year, the Oregon legislature passed one of Governor Kotek’s signature bills to address housing needs in the state, which included $369 million in funding to address housing shortages. 

Included in Governor Kotek’s push for more housing in Oregon is a specific focus on housing for wildfire survivors and communities uprooted by fire. 

The Governor’s strategies include accelerating the production of modular homes and other innovative affordable housing solutions that provide stable housing to wildfire victims in a timely manner. 

Through the Modular Housing Development Fund, the state is supporting manufacturers that develop modular housing units across the state. The fund prioritizes housing that is affordable to state and local governments following wildfires or other natural disasters, as well as low-income and middle-income housing construction. 

Governor Kotek recently toured Blazer Industries’ modular homes factory in Aumsville, which received $5 million through the Modular Housing Development Fund. The factory is producing homes to rebuild areas that were lost in the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire. 

“We simply need more homes to address Oregon’s housing crisis, and modular housing is a part of the solution,” Governor Kotek said. “I am eager to see this innovative development deliver real results for Oregonians displaced by the Holiday Farm Fire, and I believe this is a model we can replicate for recovery housing in the years to come.” 

Blazer Industries projects that the state grant will boost their production by as many as 100 residential homes per year, and they will prioritize wildfire disaster recovery units first. The project is also partially funded by $9.9 million allocated by the Oregon legislature in 2021. 

Governor Kotek also recently attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new housing development dedicated to wildfire-affected families in Southern Oregon. The development, known as New Spirit Village, was partially funded by a state grant, and will include homes at well below the area’s market rate. 

In addition to helping support affordable new construction methods to help those displaced by wildfire, Governor Kotek is also directly helping wildfire victims with measures like the tax relief bill she signed into law earlier this year. The measure ensures that property taxes don’t spike for homeowners that rebuild their homes after a fire, which encourages residents to stay in their communities and rebuild. 

“My administration is laser focused on our state’s housing crisis because we know that having safe, affordable housing is the foundation for Oregonians building healthy and full lives,” Governor Kotek said. “Part of the solution must include permanent housing for Oregonians who lost their homes because of wildfires.”