Guam - Hoping to do away with the eyesore of abandoned teacher housing units across the island, Senator Tina Muna Barnes and Vice Speaker BJ Cruz introduced legislation that would place the long-abandoned Department of Education staff housing units under the jurisdiction of the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority.

Bill 235 would allow GHURA to rehabilitate the 46 abandoned staff housing units in Agat, Talofofo, Dededo, Yigo and Merizo into affordable homes through a combination of federal programs.

Barnes states, "GHURA's recent housing study indicates Guam's Organic growth will need an additional 6,000 affordable homes by 2020.  Though this measure is a small step in the right direction, I believe we have a responsibility to turn abandoned housing into affordable homes wherever we find them."