Reimagining Housing in Hawaiʻi

Innovative and Affordable Models to Meet Our Housing Needs

November 2013

Executive Summary

The population of people in need of affordable housing in Hawaiʻi is diverse. However, a common element is wages that are too low to cover the cost of living. That makes finding permanent, stable homes exceedingly difficult.

Low-income households include singles, couples, kūpuna and families with children. Different types of households have different housing needs. A family with young children may thrive in a multi-bedroom unit outside of the urban core, but a single person transitioning out of chronic homelessness may be most successful living closer to supportive services.

There is no single housing solution. However, it is clear that our current housing needs are far from being met. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of housing models that can be used to increase supply of affordable housing.

This report builds on Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s previous publication, “Addressing Homelessness: New Approaches to Affordable Housing in Hawaiʻi.” We seek to present new ideas to develop units more efficiently and at a lower cost while still providing dignified housing that meets the needs of various segments of Hawaiʻi’s population.

Key options include very small rental units; small, ultra-affordable single-family homes; adaptive reuse of existing buildings; and accessory dwelling units. The primary focus of this report is on rental housing, but these models can be adapted for ownership as well.