Deadline extended to March 31 for comments on Maui County Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery action plan.
Lahaina, HI – As the Maui County Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) action plan nears completion, community members have an opportunity to register their support of eight homeowner recommendations by March 31, 2025, to ensure they are included in the final plan.
Developed by Hawaiʻi Community Lending (HCL) and Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama Long Term Recovery Group (Ho‘ōla LTRG), the recommendations will specifically benefit Lahaina homeowners with the goal of preventing the displacement of Lahaina residents and supporting individuals and families who lack resources to rebuild.
The U.S. Congress appropriated $1.6 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding on Dec. 21, 2024, to support recovery efforts from the 2023 Maui wildfires. The funding will be provided to the County of Maui through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The eight recommendations are based on data and feedback shared by 503 homeowners impacted by the fires who are enrolled in HCL’s Lahaina Homeowner Recovery (LHRP) and Ho‘ōla LTRG programs. By gathering sufficient support and comments, the goal is to get these homeowner-led recommendations included in the plan so that the needs of Lahaina familes are met.
The County deadline to provide comments for the Maui County CDBG-DR action plan has been extended to March 31 at 4 p.m. Comments may be submitted online at www.mauirecovers.org/cdbgdr, by mail, or in-person at the Lahaina Resource Center or Kāko‘o Maui Relief & Aid Services Center.
“This is a kāhea for community members to support Lahaina families staying in Lahaina. We encourage residents to review the recommendations informed by Lahaina residents and consider including them as part of your comments to the County,” said Jeff Gilbreath, HCL executive director. “By integrating these recommendations, the CDBG-DR action plan can effectively address the challenges faced by Lahaina residents, promoting equitable recovery and resilience in the aftermath of the wildfire.”
Maui County CDBG-DR Action Plan Recommendations
- Request to Adjust Income Limit for CDBG-DR Upfront. While CDBG-DR seeks to benefit low-and-moderate income households below 80% area median income (AMI), the County of Maui should request to adjust the income limit upfront considering that Lahaina residents are being forced to leave the island due to rising costs of food, rents, and home rebuilds. For example, Puerto Rico successfully requested and secured from the Department of Housing and Urban Development an adjustment above the 80% AMI limit to meet the urgent need of reducing outmigration caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.
- Direct Grants for Rebuilding. Allocate funds to provide grants to homeowners through nonprofits for rebuilding their primary residences, covering predevelopment costs such as architectural designs, permits, environmental assessments, cesspool to septic conversions, and cultural monitoring of iwi kūpuna.
- Contract Nonprofits. Establish policies that prioritize contracts with nonprofits experienced in disaster case management, affordable housing, and lending to expedite reconstruction, ensure long-term affordability, and streamline application processes so Lahaina residents do not have to complete multiple applications to receive assistance.
- Zero-Interest Deferred Payment Loans. Expand the County of Maui’s deferred payment loan program to offer zero-interest loans with deferred payments that do not require repayment as long as the family resides in the home, helping families qualify for construction and mortgage financing that is affordable.
- Allow for Owner-Builder Projects. Expand the Single Family Reconstruction Program to include owner-builder projects, which includes volunteer build programs such as Habitat for Humanity and the Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama LTRG.
- Allow for Reimbursements of Grants and Loans. Include the following language to reimburse funds that families have paid already toward rebuilding or from grants and loans provided by nonprofits, the State, and/or the County in accordance with CDBG-DR regulations. Consider this specific language to be inserted into the action plan:
Maui County recognizes that private nonprofit entities leverage private sector resources to provide grants and short-term bridge loans to impacted homeowners for rebuilding single-family homes as well as for multi-family developments. These organizations are familiar with CDBG-DR regulations and can assist homeowners in remaining in their homes and completing rebuilds promptly. Homeowners collaborating with these entities may be eligible for reimbursement of money they have paid toward their rebuild or for grants and short-term bridge loans provided through the Single Family Reconstruction, Multi-Family Rental Housing Reconstruction, New Housing Opportunities for Disaster Impacted Renters, and Infrastructure and Public Facilities Programs. - Ensure Families Qualify for Homeowners Insurance. Provide grants to homeowners enrolled in nonprofit programs to incorporate fire-resistant design elements into their rebuilding plans, ensuring homes are insurable and better protected against future fires. Establish a program in partnership with the State to provide basic fire insurance coverage when traditional insurance companies will not or costs are too high, offering homeowners financial protection during the rebuilding phase and once the home is completed. Invest in constructing a new fire station in Lahaina and allocate additional resources for firefighters to improve emergency response capabilities.
- Ongoing Community Engagement. Continue to hold public meetings to share the progress of the action plan and partnerships and programs that have been developed. Use community feedback and program data to refine and improve programs, ensuring Lahaina residents have a say in the redevelopment of Lahaina.
To comment and for more information, visit www.mauirecovers.org/cdbgd
About Hawaiʻi Community Lending (HCL)
Hawaiʻi Community Lending is a U.S. Treasury-certified native community development financial institution (CDFI) that makes loans to homebuilders, homebuyers, and homeowners, along with technical assistance and grants to prevent foreclosure. HCL is Hawai‘i’s premier nonprofit mortgage lender, helping local and Hawaiian families navigate the path to homeownership. www.hawaiicommunitylending.com
About Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama Long Term Recovery Group (Ho‘ōla LTRG)
The Ho‘ōla LTRG, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, unites local organizations, leaders, and partners to support Maui’s recovery from the August 2023 wildfires. The group focuses on providing resources and coordinating recovery efforts to help survivors rebuild their lives and ensure a sustainable, resilient future for the community. www.mauilongtermrecovery.org
About HCL’s Lahaina Homeowner Recovery Program (LHRP)
HCL launched LHRP in May 2024, eight months after the devasting August wildfires, in partnership with Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HCF) and Holomua Collective to establish the three-year program to assist up to 500 owner-occupant Lahaina homeowners prevent foreclosure and qualify for financing to rebuild their homes. HCL’s LHRP funding partners include First Hawaiian Bank, American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawaiʻi, Central Pacific Bank, HomeStreet Bank, Hawaiʻi National Bank, Finance Factors, Holomua Collective, and the Maui Strong Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) increased the reach of bank partners with its 3:1 Member Impact Fund, designed to offer eligible organizations critical financial support for affordable housing and community development initiatives in targeted areas of FHLB Des Moines’ district. LHRP expanded from HCL’s Kānaka Anti-Displacement Fund to serve all Lahaina owner-occupant homeowners. The fund launched in September 2023 to help the 104 native Hawaiian homeowners in the Leialiʻi homestead access FEMA/SBA applications and appeals; a grant-funded public insurance adjuster; emergency credit counseling; loss mitigation assistance; and other grants and low-interest loans to help fund their temporary living situations, existing mortgages, and future rebuild.