Lahaina’s Struggle for Stability After Devastating Wildfire

After a catastrophic wildfire in Lahaina, Maui, residents face ongoing struggles to find stable housing. Government and nonprofits are collaborating to provide temporary solutions but are hindered by a strained housing market and high costs. Efforts to maintain community unity are crucial amid fears of cultural disintegration.

Josephine Fraser feared that her family's next home might be a tent after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century devastated Lahaina, Maui. Since the disaster, Fraser, her partner, their sons, and their dog have relocated nine times in nine months, often with just 24 hours' notice.

The American Red Cross announced an end to the hotel shelter program, complicating Fraser's efforts to explain to her 3-year-old why they couldn't return home. Thousands in Maui have faced similar uncertainties since the August 2023 wildfire destroyed Lahaina, displacing over 12,000 people and killing at least 102.

Efforts to house survivors involve federal, state, county, and philanthropic collaboration, costing over $500 million over two years. However, the island's tourism-dependent, vacation rental-heavy housing market has made long-term shelter difficult to secure. Many survivors have moved to pricey condos far from jobs and schools, with some families even leaving Maui altogether.

(With inputs from agencies.)