The link between low wages and high housing costs
There are two sides to the affordable housing problem. One is building more units and the other is the low income of our residents.
Building more affordable housing depends on subsidies which are limited by both the federal and state governments. As a practical matter, Hawaiʻi only gets enough funds to create 200 to 225 units a year.
The other side of the affordable housing crisis is an income problem.
Fifty percent of the population pays more than 50 percent of their income for shelter, which leaves nothing for necessities. This in reality is a social inequality problem and needs to be addressed as quick as possible.
By raising wages, it is faster and more efficient to solve the affordable housing crises than trying to create more units. Currently, numerous cities and states are increasing their minimum wage.