Bill To Speed Construction Of Ohana Houses On Maui Adopted
The legislation will make it possible for homeowners to get paid to build accessory dwelling units on their properties.
The Maui County Council recently passed a bill that provides grants of up to $100,000 to help build attached or detached accessory dwelling units.
The bill is an effort to promote development of ohana units — also known as accessory dwelling units, or ADUs — to boost the availability of affordable housing on Maui, where the median price of a home is more than $1 million.
Council Chair Alice Lee said the bill modifies criteria for tapping into the county’s Homeowner Programs Revolving Fund.
“My colleagues and I consider housing a top priority and the ʻOhana Assistance Program is part of our effort to meet essential housing needs of Maui County residents,” said Lee in a news release. “We’ve received numerous inquiries about the program, and I look forward to seeing new accessory dwelling units to assist with our housing crisis.”
The council revised the bill to support those who recently acquired a home and would like to build an accessory dwelling unit, said Lee, who holds the council seat for the Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu residency area.
The Ohana Assistance Program is a pilot project, meaning it could be reviewed or revised in the future.
Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.
