Three years ago, wildfires burned in many parts of Oregon. More than 4,000 homes were destroyed, about half of them manufactured homes, which represented significant amounts of affordable housing.

In response, the state legislature authorized spending $161 million to provide about 1,000 permanent housing units for low-income residents in 15 projects.

Today the Oregonian newspaper reported that the promises have not yet been fulfilled (“Oregon promised permanent housing for wildfire survivors. Victims are still waiting 3 years later“).

Two of the largest projects, in southern Oregon, are substantially behind schedule and timelines for completion remain murky. In one case, agency leaders failed to effectively navigate warnings about alleged construction defects and didn’t tell people expecting the homes until 14 months later.

As a result, some low-income Oregonians waiting for years to move into new homes or apartments remain stuck living in state-funded RVs or former hotel and motel rooms converted into cramped studios.

There have been contruction problems. Unresolved financing issues. Unexplained delays. Lack of public information.

Repairing construction defects in modular homes delivered to one project “would likely exceed the value of the newly built homes,” the Oregonian reported. The story goes into greater detail as the problems kept coming.

If there are lessons to be learned from the Oregon experience, Hawaii officials should be paying close attention to what has gone wrong there and how to avoid similar delays.