The devastating wildfires that swept through Hawaii last year have resulted in the displacement of numerous local residents. In response to the escalating threat of homelessness, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) plans to counteract this risk by allocating $6.9 million in funds to the state.
According to a HUD news release, these funds are sourced from Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) funding. This allocation follows a previous provision of $1.3 million in RUSH funding in August 2023. Marion McFadden, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, was present in Maui this week to announce this development. As the six-month anniversary of the wildfires approaches, it is hoped by the Biden administration that these funds will help alleviate homelessness issues in the area.
HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge commented on this initiative: "These much-needed resources allow us to reach some of our most vulnerable neighbors at a particularly difficult time." She added that HUD will continue its collaboration with federal partners, local officials, and communities on rehousing efforts and supporting Hawaii's recovery from the destructive wildfires.
The news release also reported Democratic Governor Josh Green's appreciation for the support extended towards Maui. The latest round of funding is anticipated to bridge gaps in federal disaster assistance for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Governor Green expressed his gratitude: "We say mahalo to HUD for the $6.9 million to help house the homeless on Maui and the 1115 Medicaid waiver that allows states to use Medicaid funds for housing." He continued by saying, "I have said since I served in the state legislature that housing is healthcare. By ensuring that homeless individuals have a roof over their heads, we know we can decrease costs relating to caring for them by up to 73 percent. This is validation that treating shelter and housing as a source of our people’s health is the path forward."
