Four months after the devastating Maui fires, thousands of burned-out residents still need a place to call home.
Civil Beat reports an expanded program is about to make the search for a place to stay a bit easier.
The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is offering incentives to encourage more residents to lease out portions of their home to fire victims.
They are offering forgivable loans of up to $50,000 for homeowners to build accessible dwelling units on their property to house displaced families up to three years.
The program is also guaranteeing that rent will be paid by the fire victims. So far more than 500 families have been housed through this program.
Information on the programs will be available on HelpingMaui.org.
“When we saw what happened, we were all moved,” Kuhio Lewis, executive director of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, said to Hawaii News Now. “Our immediate reaction was how do we help. It’s about the fabric of Hawaii. It’s about who we are. It’s what we do.”
Homeowners who participate in the program will receive tax incentives as well from the county along with damage protection. There is also a stipend of $500 per person, an increase from the previous $375.
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