https://sputnikglobe.com/20230830/hawaiians-outraged-by-bidens-700-wildfire-relief-payment-as-housing-crisis-looms-1113001557.html
Hawaiians Outraged by Biden's $700 Wildfire Relief Payment as Housing Crisis Looms
Hawaiians Outraged by Biden's $700 Wildfire Relief Payment as Housing Crisis Looms
Sputnik International
The people living in Hawaii found it upsetting that US President Joe Biden offered a one-time payment of $700 to all those impacted by the wildfires amid a looming housing crisis and rising unemployment, a resident of Maui told Sputnik.
2023-08-30T20:02+0000
2023-08-30T20:02+0000
2023-08-30T20:01+0000
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On Wednesday, Biden announced $95 million would go to harden Hawaii's electric grid in the wake of wildfires that erupted in Maui on August 8. The disaster has left at least 115 dead while 388 are still missing, according to officials. The Lahaina fire, which remains 90% contained, burned an estimated 2,170 acres. It cost $7,000 per month for an average family of four just to make it paycheck to paycheck, the source added. The real estate websites in Maui mostly provide a rent range for a one-bedroom apartment in Maui of approximately $2,000. According to the source, an average house for four people is about $3,000 - 4,000 per month, and - on average - a decent hotel room is now $700 per night. Maui officials have indicated the blaze torched about 3,000 housing structures. Also many people spend more than 30% of their income on housing. The resident also believes there are much more displaced people than the government is claiming. According to the source, the federal aid to the island has not been very strong but there are many private donations or international organizations driving the majority of aid distribution. The island, in addition to all above, is half empty. The source likened the current environment to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was a "ghost town." With nearly all the planes in-bound to Maui more than half empty, the development is painting a dark cloud for the island as economists estimate that about 40% of its GDP is tourism dependent.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230830/price-of-living-in-maui-enormous-in-wake-of-wildfires---resident-1112977014.html
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maui, hawaii, lahaina wildfire, wildfire relief payment, looming housing crisis, rising unemployment in hawaii
maui, hawaii, lahaina wildfire, wildfire relief payment, looming housing crisis, rising unemployment in hawaii
Hawaiians Outraged by Biden's $700 Wildfire Relief Payment as Housing Crisis Looms
LAHAINA, Hawaii (Sputnik), Lenka White - The people living in Hawaii found it upsetting that US President Joe Biden offered a one-time payment of $700 to all those impacted by the wildfires amid a looming housing crisis and rising unemployment, a resident of Maui told Sputnik.
On Wednesday, Biden announced $95 million would go to harden Hawaii's electric grid in the wake of wildfires that erupted in Maui on August 8. The disaster has left at least 115 dead while 388 are still missing, according to officials. The Lahaina fire, which remains 90% contained, burned an estimated 2,170 acres.
"People in Hawaii laughed about Biden’s pledge to send $700 to all wildfire impacted residents," the resident said. "There is a looming housing crisis… The entire island is also starting to fire people."
It cost $7,000 per month for an average family of four just to make it paycheck to paycheck, the source added.
The real estate websites in Maui mostly provide a rent range for a one-bedroom apartment in Maui of approximately $2,000. According to the source, an average house for four people is about $3,000 - 4,000 per month, and - on average - a decent hotel room is now $700 per night.
30 August 2023, 03:37 GMT
Maui officials have indicated the blaze torched about 3,000 housing structures. Also many people spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
"Maui can not build houses fast enough. I think they will keep putting people in the hotel rooms otherwise the hotel rooms will go bankrupt," the source said.
The resident also believes there are much more displaced people than the government is claiming.
According to the source, the federal aid to the island has not been very strong but there are many private donations or international organizations driving the majority of aid distribution.
The island, in addition to all above, is half empty. The source likened the current environment to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was a "ghost town." With nearly all the planes in-bound to Maui more than half empty, the development is painting a dark cloud for the island as economists estimate that about 40% of its GDP is tourism dependent.
Maui is an island about six hours away from the closest US mainland airport, and therefore making food products very expensive as resources need to be imported. A gallon of milk costs nearly $10.00, eggs $8.00, and a pack of cherry tomatoes $5.00.
According to the World Population Review and its cost of living index - Hawaii ranks first in the US, even ahead of California and New York.
Right after the fires, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it pledged more than $5.6 million in aid to about 2,000 affected households in Maui.
