August 06, 2004

Affordable Housing 1

I took these photo of actual inhabited dwellings here in Hilo. This is awful, yet there doesnt seem to be a lot that can be done as market forces and cultural forces seem to be going against the tide of affordable housing in Hawaii.
In South Hilo, Puna and Ka'u districts (East or Windward Hawaii) Unemployment is 11% versus the 4% on the rest of the island. (as you know this is a huge hinderance to Woody getting full time work) The average none government wage in this area is 10.00 per hour. The median price for a single family home is 175,000. Rent for a 2/2 unit is 800.00 per month and vacancy rate is 1%, or zero. I understand that these plantation era single wall shacks rent for 700.00 per month.