Aside from the economic importance of military jobs within the Hawaiian Islands, tourism is a vital system. NPR reports that tourists spend an average of $200 per day for hotel, meal and entertainment. Only $3 a day is spent by the homeless for room, board, and full health coverage within the Hawaiian Islands. There is help for those living in the Hawaiian Islands with food although most the people in line aren’t even locals.
More homeless on Hawaiian Islands than ever
Within the past 12 months, shelter populations have increased by 10 percent. Not only that, writes NPR, but 1,300 of those homeless in Hawaii each year come from out of state. Out of state people like going to Hawaii for the 5 cents redeemed with plastic and aluminum. Gary Phillips, who was homeless in San Diego for a long period of time, came to Hawaii and makes as much as $40 per day this way. Phillips and numerous others like him sleep at the $3 shelter and receive three meals, $200 per month in food stamps and free state-funded health care. With state support, they typically do not even need more cash until payday.
Vacationers and homeless paradise
The spending budget deficit in the Hawaiian Islands is $1.2 billion, and the state is trying to use Medicaid and tax refunds to help with that. This can be a bad time for more homeless to move in considering homeless shelters take millions of tax dollars to operate. Connie Mitchell, executive director of one of the largest homeless shelters on the Hawaiian Islands, told NPR that nearly a 3rd of her shelter’s spending budget is spent on this type of new arrival. Mitchell and others are concerned that a lot of people may even be taking up the homeless lifestyle simply to enjoy the tropical breezes and free care.
Honolulu and also the homeless
According to the University of Hawaii’s Center on the Family, 21 percent of bums were Caucasian in 2005 while now 43 percent are. Most of these people are middle-aged and single. These individuals get the money to fly over when then living in Hawaii practically for free doing odds and ends jobs. As the Hawaiian authorities start to catch on to the resource dilemma, the Hawaiian Islands homeless individuals will largely move on. It is hard to decide whether a person really needs the government help or now. Anybody abusing the system shouldn’t be allowed to do it since you will find people that really need instant money and help from the programs.
UPDATE – Hawaii has tried sending homeless people back to the mainland. New York has decided to fly them BACK to Hawaii.
Further reading
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
