<
https://overstoryhawaii.org/community-land-trusts-are-on-the-rise-in-hawaii/>
"On Aug. 8, 2024, a new milestone was reached in the aftermath of the deadly
Lahaina wildfire that destroyed 2,200 structures and displaced 12,000
residents: A Lahaina nonprofit secured its first residential parcel for
community ownership.
1651 Lokia Street, which once held a four-bed, three-bath house, sits empty.
But one day, the property will accommodate a new main house and two ‘ohana
units, providing a stable, affordable home for an extended or multigenerational
family.
That property will forever remain in the hands of Lahaina’s people under the
Lahaina Community Land Trust, which will own the land and only sell homes atop
to kama‘āina.
Lahaina residents have long pushed back against external real estate interests
and were already dealing with displacement before the fire. But amid a worsened
housing shortage, rising rents and speculators looking to cash in on the
tragedy, securing Lahaina and safeguarding affordable homes for its community
members has become more important than ever. A March 2024 report estimated
that, without intervention, as much as 20% of Lahaina’s homes could change
hands in the next three years.
“I can’t even begin to quantify the impact of securing one piece of property
that until forever is going to house how many people,” said Autumn Ness,
executive director of the Lahaina Community Land Trust. “You can’t be evicted.
How many families are going to enjoy that and be better community members for
it? Because they have a roof over their head, their kids will have present
parents.”
The nonprofit is one of several Hawai‘i community land trusts that have been
established in recent years as ‘āina experts, community organizers, real estate
professionals and others look to combat Hawai‘i’s ever-increasing housing
prices, keep more longtime residents in their communities and preserve
Hawai‘i’s culture and identity."
Via
Reasons to be Cheerful:
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-forest-therapy-wildfire-survivors/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
