Grassroot Institute Releases New Report on How to Fix Hawaii's Housing Crisis

The solution may be found in a recent Supreme Court decision

News Release from Grassroot Institute

HONOLULU, HAWAII--March 24, 2016--Today, the Grassroot Institute released a new report offering a possible solution to Hawaii's housing crisis. Authored by Grassroot Scholar Randal O'Toole, the paper, titled "Using Disparate Impact to Restore Housing Affordability and Property Rights," looks at both how regulations have created a lack of affordable housing in the state and how the problem can be addressed.

As O'Toole, an expert in public land use and land rights, explains, Hawaii's land use restrictions have made housing in Hawaii more expensive, made housing prices more volatile, and are a major contributor to wealth inequality. Because all of these factors have a disproportionate effect on low-income minorities, a June 2015 Supreme Court decision authorizing the use of disparate impact considerations in determining whether government agencies are following the Fair Housing Act may provide the tool to make housing in Hawaii more affordable.

O'Toole will be discussing these findings in an interview with Grassroot President Keli'i Akina on Monday, March 28th from 2-2:45 pm on the ThinkTech network. To tune in to the live broadcast, go to http://thinktechhawaii.com/live-on-air.html. The video will also be available after the broadcast on the Grassroot Institute website. Questions for Dr. Akina and Mr. O'Toole may be submitted via email at kmeehan@grassrootinstitute.org or via Twitter during the program at @thinktechhi.

"As citizens, we've heard a lot of promises about addressing our housing issues, but what is really required is a serious look at the regulations that have exacerbated the problem," stated Keli'i Akina, Ph.D., President of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. "As the state's leading free market think tank, we are glad to be able to offer analysis and solutions that can make a real difference."

The report can be viewed in full at: http://new.grassrootinstitute.org/2016/03/new-report-fixing-the-affordable-housing-crisis-in-hawaii/

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About the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii:

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, the free market, and limited, accountable government throughout Hawai`i and the Asia-Pacific region.  Read more about us at http://www.grassrootinstitute.org/

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About Grassroot President:

Keli’i Akina, Ph.D.,  is a recognized scholar, educator, public policy spokesperson, and community leader in Hawaii.  Currently, he is President/CEO of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, a public policy think tank dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, free markets and limited, accountable government.  An expert in East-West Philosophy and ethics, Dr. Akina has taught at universities in China and the United States and continues as an adjunct instructor at Hawaii Pacific University.  Dr. Akina was a candidate for Trustee at Large of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in the 2014 General Election run-off.