Republican candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor of Guam, Tony Ada and EJ Calvo, unveiled their “Homes First Plan” during a press conference Tuesday morning at their Hagatña headquarters.

They say the plan is a comprehensive strategy aimed at addressing the island’s housing challenges.

“In 2019, the median home price for Guam was under $275,000; today, it’s over $450,000. This increase is not accidental. It is driven by real structural problems, including regulatory delays, rising construction costs, infrastructure shortages, limited economies of scale, and growing housing demands tied to military activity,” said Vice Speaker and candidate for Governor of Guam, Tony Ada.

Ada emphasizes that this price surge is the difference between families affording a home and being priced out of the market.

He also cited the island’s current shortage of 6,000 homes, with federal projections anticipating hundreds more required in the coming years.

The “Homes First Plan” aims to meet this deficit with a clear objective, Ada says, “Our goal is simple: by 2030, Guam will break ground on 6,000 new homes, ranging from single-family homes to apartments, duplexes, and condominiums. This is about delivering real homes and real results.”

To reach this goal, the duo promised a change in government operations.

A key component involves bringing together all housing and land agencies to streamline processes and build homes faster and more efficiently.

Ada and Calvo also vowing to establish a “Home First” team within their first 100 days in office, which would work to cut through regulatory delays, set clear timelines for approvals and inspections, and launch a digital permitting system.

They also identified another major barrier as undeveloped, government-owned lots lacking infrastructure, stating that such land represents another family waiting to build their home.

Meantime, addressing construction costs is also central to the plan, as they say high building costs translate into higher buying and renting prices for local families. Lt. Governor candidate EJ Calvo says that their team would focus on workforce solutions:

“Our team will conduct a thorough analysis of every factor driving construction costs, from labor shortages to supply delays, and take decisive action to implement solutions immediately,” said Calvo.

Additional proposals to strengthen the workforce and lower costs include prioritizing local contractors, bolstering local training pipelines, and working with federal partners to expand the h2b visa program.

The candidates also addressed affordability programs and federal coordination, Calvo saying, “In the first 100 days, Tony and I will modernize The Guam Housing Corporation’s first-time homebuyer program by updating income limits, expanding eligibility to middle-income families, and providing flexible, practical support that reflects today’s real cost of living.”

Furthermore, Ada and Calvo propose working with GHURA to reduce Section 8 waiting lists, expand the use of federal tools for affordable housing, and utilize new construction methods.

They also pledged to advocate for more base housing to relieve pressure on the local market and pursue federal funding for infrastructure supporting both military and civilian communities.

For more information, visit adacalvo.com.