Hawai‘i County Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz of the eastern Puna district said she wanted to appoint a task force to address Volcano residents’ squatting concerns after a crime reported ealier this year.
Residents complained after a sexual assault was reported this year. The suspect was alleged to be squatting in a vacant home within the community. Kierkiewicz said her plan was to create a task force to help resolve the problem.
“One of the key objectives of the task force is to pinpoint challenges and barriers so we can determine what opportunities to create change exist on the state level,” Kierkiewicz said.
If the task force is approved, the Hawai‘i County councilwoman hopes to eliminate the community’s problem, Big Island Now reported. Kierkiewicz believes that most of the problematic properties are either those who have owners who are not on the island or are those that have been foreclosed on and repossessed by banks.
She hopes to file a resolution to be heard during Hawai‘i County Council Committee no later than Sept. 7.
Hawai‘i Police Department Maj. Kenneth Quiocho said there should be tougher laws and a collaborative effort should be executed to resolve the issue, including holding people, banks and finance companies accountable, according to Big Island Now. He said that squatting is more likely on lands or homes that can be bought at a reasonable price.