Some Maui residents fear programs aimed to house fire survivors could make other families homeless
WEST MAUI (HawaiiNewsNow) - Some West Maui families say government programs designed to house fire evacuees are having unintended consequences.
Some fear even more people may end up homeless.
Born and raised West Maui resident Manu Akana said he is on edge because his lease is up in June. He said he is hearing more stories about landlords not renewing their tenants’ leases because they can get more money from the government housing fire survivors.
“Every other landlord wants a piece of that. I mean I would want a piece of that,” Akana, a Mahinahina resident, said.
Akana is talking about FEMA’s Direct Lease program that pays landlords up to 175-percent of Fair Market Rent to house a fire survivor. That means they could get almost twice as much as they are getting now.
Carl Hu owns a short-term rental in West Maui and is renting it out to fire survivors. He said the program is flawed.
“It incentivizes the wrong people. Primarily incentivizes landlords who can make twice as much money by renting to a fire survivor, given them not renewing the lease with a non-fire survivor,” said Hu.
“The displaced is getting into places now, and the people who weren’t displaced are going to get displaced. So, you’re not really fixing anything,” Akana said.
In a statement, FEMA said this is not allowed.
“We have advised our Property Managers that if they believe property owners are giving their tenants notice just to house a survivor, FEMA will not accept their property into Direct Lease and that the tenant may report them to the Attorney General,” said Fredia Kelly, FEMA External Affairs Specialist.
However, both Hu and Akana said enforcement is challenging.
“They gotta know that it’s gonna hike the value up in the market. It’s gonna make it harder for people to stay here,” said Akana.”
“The fire burned down all of Lahaina town, the physical buildings and such, and now I’m fearing, is the community of Lahaina, its people, are we looking at destruction of Lahaina’s community as we know it by forcing all these people to be dispersed?” said Hu.
They hope laws can be passed to prevent this and protect local residents.
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