Over half of Hawaiian households are ‘rent burdened,’ spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing last year.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed into law two new bills that aim to protect local residents from displacement and create new housing as costs on the island state continue to rise, writes Audrey McAvoy in an article for the Associated Press.
The laws require counties to permit at least two accessory dwelling units on residential lots and allow for residential development in commercially zoned areas, particularly supporting the adaptive reuse of existing buildings.
According to a report from the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, over half of Hawaii households spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent, and just one in five households can afford the mortgage on a median-priced home in the state.
FULL STORY: Hawaii governor signs housing legislation aimed at helping local residents stay in islands
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