Chief Housing Officer to address top questions surrounding Emergency Proclamation on Housing

Chief Housing Officer Nani Medeiros today will answer the public’s top questions relating to Gov. Josh Green’s Emergency Proclamation on Housing.

The virtual question-and-answer session will begin at 2:30 p.m., and will be livestreamed on the Office of the Governor Facebook page and the Office of the Governor Instagram feed.

Gov. Green declared a State of Emergency in Hawai‘i, the most unaffordable housing market in the nation, on July 17.

Green’s emergency proclamation seeks to expedite the construction of new homes through a slew of measures including appointing a state Lead Housing Officer, creating a working group and streamlining established regulatory processes.

“We don’t have enough houses for our people. It’s really that simple,” Green said when signing the emergency proclamation in July. “That is where we are and we are struggling and suffering because that is the case.”

According to Green, Hawai‘i must construct 50,000 new housing units by 2025 to meet current demand.

This Friday, the Build Beyond Barriers Working Group formed by Gov. Green’s emergency proclamation will hold its kick-off meeting from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The public may view the meeting’s proceedings virtually via the Office of the Governor Facebook page.

As set forth in the Governor’s Emergency Proclamation on Housing, the Build Beyond Barriers Working Group is intended to expedite the development of affordable housing, stewarding projects through the development process.

The Friday meeting’s agenda will be dedicated to the launch and orientation of Working Group members. Because of this, no project applications will be considered.