West Maui Workforce Housing Survey is ongoing

The West Maui Workforce Housing Survey currently is underway and continues to accept participants.

More than 300 people had taken the survey as of earlier this month. The survey aligns with Maui Economic Development Board’s Focus Maui Nui initiative, an ongoing community outreach program that “pulses” residents on key issues.

The current phase of the Focus Maui Nui project — Next Steps 2019 — involves gathering recent data from a wide range of statistical sources on key demographic, social and economic indicators to evaluate progress made over the last decade and a half, a news release about the survey said.

The data is framed by the established priorities already identified by the community — education, the environment, meeting human needs, sustainable economic development, civic engagement, multicultural roots and cultural traditions as well as infrastructure, including housing. Focus Maui Nui has consistently identified affordable housing as a key aspect of infrastructure prioritized by Maui residents, the news release said.

The survey was deployed via employers on the west side, including resorts, employment services, retail outlets and restaurants. Among the organizations approached to help with distribution were the West Maui Taxpayers Association, the LahainaTown Action Committee, the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, Lahainaluna High School and first responders.

Originally developed by a community working group and further shaped by MEDB, the West Maui Workforce Housing Survey is ongoing, and west side residents and employees are encouraged to participate to have their voices heard.

For more information on Maui’s affordable housing crisis, how to participate in the survey and to view the preliminary results, visit www.medb .org/WMsurvey/. Questions can be sent to WMsurvey @medb.org.