Tourism is important to the Hawaiian Islands although military jobs are significant too. Hotels, entertainment, and meals cost about $200 a day for tourists, reports NPR. But the homeless population of the Hawaiian Islands has room and board, full health coverage and more for only $3 per day in emergency money. There is help for those living in the Hawaiian Islands with food although most the individuals in line aren’t even locals.
Homelessness on the Hawaiian Islands is up
If shelter populations are any indication, the 10 percent increase in population over the past 12 months is telling. About 1,300 of those in Hawaii living homeless aren’t from the state, reports NPR. Plastic and Aluminum can be redeemed for 5 cents in Hawaii which is what brings more people in to the state. $40 a day is made by Gary Phillips in Hawaii rather than the little amount he made in San Diego previously. $3 is all these people have to stay at the shelter that gives 3 meals, $200 per month in food stamps and get free health care from the state. Usually they don’t need any money.
Vacation there, or live there homeless
Hawaii is using Medicaid and tax refunds to try and cover their budget deficit which is $1.2 billion. Millions of tax dollars are used to operate Hawaiian shelters which means this is a bad time to have new homeless individuals moving in. Connie Mitchell who’s a director of one of these homeless shelters explains that about a 3rd of her spending budget goes to these new arrivals, reports NPR. Mitchell feels like some of these individuals are here now just so they can enjoy being free in Hawaii without having to pay anything.
Being a bum in Honolulu
The University of Hawaii’s Center on the Family reports that there was a leap from 21 percent in 2005 to 43 percent in 2010 of Caucasians that are homeless in Hawaii. They’re mostly single and middle-aged. These individuals get the money to fly over when then living in Hawaii practically for free doing odds and ends jobs. The Hawaiian homeless individuals will largely move on while authorities start to realize their resource dilemma. Determining whether somebody is living off public funds because of laziness or real misfortune – and dealing with each group appropriately – is a problem Hawaii’s government needs to solve. Everyone who needs fast cash loans should be able to take advantage of these programs instead of those just abusing the system.
UPDATE- The mainland has received homeless back since Hawaii is flying them back. New York has decided to fly them BACK to Hawaii.
NPR
npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126675999
The price of paradise – and this was in 2008. It is worse now.
youtube.com/watch?v=w058VpVl3t4
Newser
newser.com/story/96470/hawaii-buys-homeless-plane-tickets-to-mainland.html
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