FEMA Announces Hawaii Housing Plan Using Modular Construction

Since then, MBI Government Affairs Director, Jon Hannah-Spacagna, has continued to work with FEMA leadership to promote the industry. On January 29-30, Jon was invited to attend a FEMA workshop in Washington, DC. There he connected with FEMA Deputy Director, Shunte’ Gray, to discuss their work for Hawaii relief. Jon provided copies of ICC/MBI standards 1200 and 1205 as well as a prototype structure an MBI member built for the 2019 MIT/FEMA study. Shunte’ confirmed that this information helped her team write the guidelines for their RFPs that will be available to modular manufacturers on March 30, 2024.

“This is a significant opportunity for our industry to partner with FEMA to support their relief efforts for those impacted by the wildfires in Hawaii,” said Hannah-Spacagna. “I’m also working with the director of Home Aid Hawaii, who is planning another housing project for victims that will consist of a $120 million commitment by the state to build an additional 456 homes using modular construction.”

Governor Josh Green of Hawaii confirmed in a recent interview that homes built off-site or even off-island would be part of the mix to rebuild Lahaina. Additionally, Andrew Pereira, Director of Public Affairs for the Pacific Resource Partnership stated, “I think it’s safe and fair to say that because of the crisis in Maui everyone wants whatever solution is available to, as quickly as possible, build housing that is going to provide dignity to people who live in it. I think this is probably the beginning of an era where we spend some of our energy on modular housing.”