$15,000 hotel bill for Maui evacuee sparks call for new housing solutions
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For the first time, the public is getting an idea of how much it’s costing to house just one wildfire survivor in a Maui hotel. That tab is more than $15,000 per month — and advocates say it shows why intermediate housing is needed now.
Since Sanford Hill’s home was destroyed in the Lahaina fire, he’s been living in hotels paid for by the government. “I’ve been trying to find out how much it costs me for a long time,” said Hill.
“No one would tell me. It was like, ‘oh they are paying for it,’” he added.
Then a bill apparently accidentally appeared.
“All of a sudden, this bill just showed up in my email,” said Hill.
Hill knew he personally didn’t have to pay it, but it’s a window into how much is being spent.
The bill from the Royal Lahaina is from January 1 to May 31 and shows the daily charge was $354. With taxes and fees, it’s roughly $500 per day — totaling more than $15,000 per month.
“The bill is for five months from January 1 to June 1. That alone is $75,000,” said Hill.
“The whole housing situation is completely screwed up. We can’t find housing. The amount of money they give us is so manini compared to $15,000 a month that the hotel is getting so it really kind of upsets me,” he added.
Special Section: Maui Wildfires Disaster
Hill says noise from a renovation project is also particularly bothersome.
He showed the bill to the group Lahaina Strong, which has been pushing for long-term housing.
“It’s so much. It’s so much money that’s being spent to house a fire victim,” said Carlos Lama, of Lahaina Strong. “It can be used in other ways and other means to actually house them in more permanent solutions.”
FEMA issued the following statement on the situation:
“FEMA is working closely with the American Red Cross and the state to move wildfire survivors from hotels on Maui and O’ahu into more suitable housing. The hotel sheltering program is providing housing until Wednesday, April 10.”
Right now, more than 4,862 survivors are living in 16 hotels.
“We will continue to support you in this recovery for as long as it takes,” said Deanne Criswell, FEMA administrator.
During last week’s six-month anniversary, federal, state and county officials announced a group of agencies with a $500 million housing plan.
On Tuesday, on Hawaii News Now’s “Spotlight Now,” Maui Mayor County Richard Bissen talked about FEMA’s plan to build modular homes. He touted the progress and challenges ahead.
“I think through our different partners we are trying to expand the inventory and that’s really the key and we are trying to focus on West Maui, but unfortunately not all the units will be able to be built there,” said Bissen.
Bissen also mentioned that some evacuees have turned down FEMA’s housing offers when it’s outside of West Maui. He said if people turn down FEMA’s housing offer, they are out of the program, but he said FEMA officials stressed to him, they should definitely make an appeal.
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