There is no way of sugar coating the reality of Guam's housing crisis.

Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority Executive Director Elizabeth Napoli told a room of people at today's housing summit, “For years, we all know the demand for housing and the economic and social stability it can provide far exceeds the supply. We just don't have enough.”

Officials noted low supply and high demand, along with soaring construction costs remain key factors that have impacted housing affordability and availability on Guam.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero shared this message with officials from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development in attendance.

“I do have to say you need to be faster because here in Guam we really want to make sure it's urgent and housing is a very urgent priority for us,” said Leon Guerrero.

GHURA Deputy Director Fernando Esteves presented the state of housing, admitting the gap in supply and affordability has grown.

The summit focused on ways to fix that with the anticipated increase in population from the military buildup, and the rising number of homeless population recorded since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What is concerning is we are still seeing a compounding upward trend in homelessness year over. So 2023 to 2024 we still saw a 16 percent [increase] which is still a significant number. So we are going backwards,” said Esteves. “We are trying to avoid this and this then this and this.”

The plan?

GHURA will continue affordable housing and self-sufficiency programs and focus on housing policies, partnerships and funding opportunities to increase attainable housing.

HUD Field Office Director Jocelyn Doane traveled to Guam from Hawaii to attend the housing summit.

She said in Fiscal Year 2024, Guam got $71 million for rental assistance, housing operations and formula grants, adding more federal assistance will arrive next week.

“HUD's disaster relief staff is planning to be on island to provide additional technical assistance to Guam regarding the over $500 million or half a billion dollars in disaster relief award that HUD recently made in response to impacts from Mawar,” said Doane.

While the summit also touched on single and multifamily programs, Governor Leon Guerrero didn't shy away from bringing up the benefits for her proposed medical complex in Mangilao.

“For the residents in Mangilao, I want you to know that we hear you. We know you struggle with issues like low water pressure for years. These are the types of challenges we are working to address not just for today but for the longterm and having a hospital there in Mangilao will bring great improvement to the residents there,” said Leon Guerrero.