Hawaii proposes to give homeless a one-way ticket out of the state
Filed under: In the News
As the economy continues to stumble, homelessness has skyrocketed, leaving many states grappling with an expensive and delicate issue -- what to do with the growing population of people finding refuge in shelters, parks and the streets. Hawaii, where a recent census showed that the homeless population on the island of Oahu skyrocketed by 15% in one year, has come up with a creative yet controversial plan to deal with its homeless problem: ship them to another state. Hawaii's government and many of its residents worry that the homeless encampments dotting its beaches sap precious state resources and scare away tourists -- a source of income that the state desperately relies on. Many support a proposal that the state pay to send some of its homeless population back to where they came from, provided there is someone to take them in. The rationale: Spending $300 for a one-way ticket to the West Coast is far cheaper than the $35,000 per year it costs to provide a homeless person with social services, according to the Associated Press.
"If clear parameters are set -- a verified family member willing to take them in, the homeless person actually wants to leave -- then I think it makes perfect sense," says John Cheever, a teacher at Punahou School who lives in Honolulu.
"The one-way plane fare is far less costly than the cost to support out-of-state residents and straining our social service infrastructure," says Yvette Maskrey, a district manager for Honeywell who lives in Aiea, Hawaii. "Our charitable donations and tax monies should be prioritized and directed to local residents who are in dire need of these services."
The plane-ticket proposal, which is estimated to cost about $100,000, is aimed at the growing non-resident homeless population. It's estimated that 30% of Hawaii's homeless come from out of state. The attraction of Hawaii to those down on their luck is fairly obvious. Besides featuring gorgeous weather, Hawaii has jobs at a time when many other states are suffering. Unemployment in June was 6.3%, the sixth lowest in the U.S., and well below the national rate of 9.5%. But like other states, Hawaii has plenty of fiscal woes. Officials garnered national headlines last year when the state was forced to close public schools to help close a $1 billion budget deficit.
Many of these new arrivals, who come via one-way plane tickets, don't realize that life in paradise can be difficult. Kevin Morrissey came to Hawaii seeking a better life only to wind up homeless."It was always a dream of mine to come to Hawaii so when I lost my job as a bartender in Ft. Lauderdale, I thought I might find something better here," Morrissey told KITV 4 News.
"Once they get here, they are stuck," says Rona Fukumoto of Catholic Charities Hawaii, who believes the plane-ticket program is a good idea but is skeptical that it will attract much interest from homeless people.
Flying the homeless home is the latest twist on an old idea. Some towns used to give the homeless who agree to leave a bus ticket. While the idea has a certain appeal, it is far from a perfect solution. Many of the homeless shipped to a new location just end up being homeless somewhere else, says Sheila Crowley, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
"Years ago, we used to call it 'Greyhound Therapy,'" she says. She believes a better solution is to address the shortage of affordable housing that causes homelessness. A recent study found that housing someone in a shelter is more expensive than providing them with transitional housing or rent.
"Rather than be concerned with the visual impact of our state's homeless problem on the tourism industry, we need to act with compassion," says Melissa Data, a social worker from Kaneohe, Hawaii. "Instead of moving our homeless, regardless of where they came from, we need to provide better support services that address the root problems and end the cycle of homelessness."
Soon after taking office, the Obama administration invested $1.5 billion in the new Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. Billions more have been spent on other housing programs, which officials say kept millions of people in their homes who might otherwise have wound up on the street. Yet, the effectiveness of some of these programs -- especially those aimed at helping people lower their mortgage payments -- have fallen short of expectations.
Data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows a 10% reduction among people experiencing chronic homelessness in 2009, but a rise in the number of families seeking shelter. Many homeless programs in areas such as Chicago, Colorado, and California have either faced or are facing budgetary shortfalls as cash-strapped state and local governments look to balance their books.
Recently, the government release its first ever Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness that promises to "finish the job of ending chronic homelessness in five years." However, there has yet to be any money attached to those brave words.
"On a single night in January 2009, there were an estimated 643,067 sheltered and unsheltered homeless people nationwide," the report says. "In 2009, approximately 1,035,000 individuals used sheltered or transitional housing at some time during the year, as did 535,000 people who were there as part of a family."
Given the current moribund state of the economy, being homeless on the sunny beaches of Hawaii doesn't seem so bad.
Marie LaPointe, a homeless woman who moved to Hawaii from Oakland, Calif., put it this way: "I'm not going, because this is my home. I've been in Hawaii for a long time. They can't force you. I'm not going back over there for nothing."
Additional reporting by Janean Chun
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
7-30-2010 @ 7:06AM
nick said...
Send them all to Washington D.C. or to Chi town, they seem to be the place for people who can't and won't work.
Reply
7-30-2010 @ 10:19AM
BUBBA said...
YOU KNOW THIS BEING A LIBERAL STATE HOW COULD THEY DO SUCH A THING.AS A CONSERVATIVE I THINK THEY SHOULD KEEP THERE OWN,AFTER ALL THEY VOTED FOR THE MORRON (OBAMA)IN OFFICE.LIBS ALL WAYS TALK A GOOD GAME BUT THEY NEVER SEEM TO FOLLOW THRU.
7-30-2010 @ 10:56AM
Airforcemom said...
I say, send everybody back to where they came from. This would free up alot of jobs for U.S. citizens.
7-30-2010 @ 11:40AM
jingzhnzhengj said...
"If clear parameters are set -- a verified family member willing to take them in, the homeless person actually wants to leave -- then I think it makes perfect sense," says John Cheever, a teacher at Punahou School who lives in Honolulu.I'm a doctor,31 ,rich but still single.It's hard to get a girlfriend in my town ,most of them like my money more than like me.I just want to find my true love.so i uploaded my hot photos on Seek wealt hy.c o m under the name of hot561.u dont have to be a millionaire,but u can meet one there. ..if you girls see this comment,i hope you will check my photos out there.maybe you are the one who i'm looking for!!!
7-30-2010 @ 12:00PM
Dennis said...
DC is an excellent choice! They could sleep on the White House lawn
7-30-2010 @ 12:44PM
Ter said...
airforcemom, if you send everyone back to where they came from, by right the only ones who should be here are the American Indians. Since this was their home first. I don't think anyone should say what happens to homeless people, maybe one day you would lose your job and home. Then What? Bad things do happen to good people. So don't judge unless you have been there.
7-30-2010 @ 2:39PM
Paul said...
North Dakota has a ton of job openings. The Bakken oil field is creating more growth than there are people to help it grow. You might not be working in an office, but the pay is great, taxes are low, and housing is cheap.
These are not "positions" they are jobs....so you have to work under someone. I feel no pity for someone who is unnemployed yet refuses to go to where a jobs are plentiful. **it happens sometimes and you might have to move to a new state. At least you have money to survive
7-30-2010 @ 3:39PM
Leila said...
I think Hawaii and Alaska are the only states that have an excuse to do something like this. They have a valid argument that once they get there, they are stuck. It's not like they can start hitchhiking to another state to go where the work is.
7-30-2010 @ 3:42PM
LOLOLOL said...
Send the Homeless to Mexico. Let the Americans take over that country. Then, let the Mexicans have the U.S. so we can watch them screw it up.
7-30-2010 @ 7:31AM
Dave said...
Great idea, however a little modification is needed. Let's send as many homeless people to Hawaii.
Reply
7-30-2010 @ 4:55PM
BETTY said...
ISN'T IT IRONIC THAT IT'S OK FOR ONE STATE TO PUT THE
BURDEN/EXPENSE ONTO ANOTHER STATE WHEN OUR
GOV'T WON'T UNBURDEN US WITH THE ILLEGALS
ENTERING OUR COUNTRY?
7-30-2010 @ 7:34AM
rhdad554 said...
HMMMM A teacher at Barry's old alma mater wants to ship homeless somewhere else? What would Frank Marshal Davis have to say about THIS??? I dont see a whole lot of compassion here. At least they could give the homeless a job with ACORN or MOVEON.
Just sayin
Reply
7-30-2010 @ 9:25AM
Joe said...
Barry should be very upset over this. I don't think Barry ever worked a day at a McDonald's or B-King growig up. Did he? Oh that's right, his "typical white woman" gramma, PAID for his education at private schools, cause she didn't want him to turn out to be one those scary people on the street.
7-30-2010 @ 10:15AM
Tim said...
Such a hateful little man. Run away. Beck is calling. Remember to bring yer bible and tin foil hat.
7-30-2010 @ 11:58AM
Snodog said...
Tim,
Stating what is true is not being hateful .Your statement is
hateful.
7-30-2010 @ 7:52AM
Barry said...
I don't understand how this is possible. Obama has the U.S. in a recovery after that awful Bush. I'm sure everything will get better after the Bush tax cuts terminate and everyone's taxes increase. Then there is the Class Act coming where everyone who gets a pay check will pay $150 to $250 per month, starting 2011. And then there's the new finance law that will add the value of your company's health insurance to your total earning, which you will all be taxed on. Why should these Cities, Counties, Staes or the Feds care if they have to pay $35000 or so to help out some poor unfortunate person? I think they all are intitled to a new car, new house, free food, free gas, free clothes,free medical, free yacht, free vacation trips and of course they should never have to work for anything. I think everone should quit their job and stick their hand out and have the Government take care of them.
Reply
7-30-2010 @ 1:54PM
BoiseBeau8288 said...
What planet are YOU from, Barry?????? Do you even understand the meaning of personal responsibility?? Or are you like the dwindling millions of Obama ass-kissers out there who would worship at the feet of your tin god?? It's no wonder our country is going to Hell in a handbasket. It's people like you who think that everyone is entitled to certain things in life. Guess what, Barry, I PAY for those things with my taxes--as millions of other hard-working Americans do. Your tin god in the White House has left 10-20 percent of Americans unemployed. You love your tin god so much, why don't you demand that he get those jobs back, and leave the private sector alone???
7-30-2010 @ 2:26PM
jdo52tex said...
That sounds alot like the old Soviet Union.
8-17-2010 @ 4:23PM
Jamey said...
This is exactly what everyone needs. I, and over 422,000 others around the world are trying to educate humanity on the devestation the monetary system causes. No one should be denied food, water or shelter simply because they lack a stack of worthless paper(I mean not even good to wipe your nose with). The horrible comments on this page illistrate our detachment from reality designed by our meaningless materialistic society; it is a good example of the disgusting social conditioning we have as a result from the suffering of a sick society. If we based our economy from our resources(a resource based economy) we could provide a high standard of living for the entire global population. There are enough resources on our planet to sustain much more than our current population. If we quit destroying our environment and wasting our materials; if we move to clean, renewable sources for our needs and wants, we can protect and provide for all life on Earth. The monetary system is the direct cause for most of our social issues; greed, depression, anxiety, starvation, homelessness, disease, planned obselence, waste, war, violence, murder, theft, drug use, suicide, pollution, environmental destruction, etc. From corporate to individual corruption; it is a symptom of playing the game well. It is a game, and while it is a game of survival, it is all fake, made-up and completely irrelevant from our natural world. There are 1260 innocent children dying from starvation EVERY MINUTE for nothing other than a lack of paper. People are forced to accept or ignore the horrors and sacrifice their morals to attempt to secure their survival. We have now and are capable of producing plenty of food, water, and shelter for all the citizens around the world, yet, billions are suffering and uneccessarily dying from completely avoidable situations. I understand we have all been raised in this social structure and many will defend it, thinking it defines them as a person, but in turn they are defending war, poverty, destruction, and murder. I urge people to wake up, listen to the pain in your hearts when you here these tragic tales, instead of turning your head. Use your better judgement and reasoning skills to understand why things and people are the way they are. We can do so much better, all it will take is a shift in our goals. Please save the planet and the helpless children across the globe from this atrocity; fight for our freedom from the monetary system. We are wasting precious lives and brilliant minds as debt slaves. People could contribute so much more if they were allowed the opportunity. Everyone born on this planet should have a right to food, water, shelter, travel, education, etc. We have the resources to provide everyone with basic needs and wants now, so if we were to manage our resources wisely and make sustainability our priority we can create abundance(not to be confused with waste) for much more than the current population. And once we provide future generations with a positive environment to be raised in; opposite of our for-profit, selfish individual goal driven system; dishonest behavior and mistrust will disappear; crime, violence, greed, drug use, etc. will diminish until gone completely.These people are not bad people, they are a reflection of their life experiences and litterally bred from our social structure; we created these behaviors and we can fix them. It is up to each individual what they chose to believe in. That is all I'm asking, quit perpetuating every lie and brainwashed outlook you have on the world; realize what is really going on, see reality, and understand that we need to change or we will continue to destroy people and our planet to the point of no return. Our planet is finite. It may seem big to us, but is one of a few precious rocks circling a sun, which is one of billions in our galaxy, which is one of billions in our universe. We are detroying that which we do not yet understand, and we will pay.(I consider myself a theoretical physicist and am studying astrophysics, so maybe I understand a little better). This is not some doomsday statement, it is realistic possibilty, one of the worst of many we have to choose from. Humans designed this system hundreds and thousands of years ago, the world is much different now due to population and technology; both of which are a good thing. But a different world requires a different social structure. Many of you may think this is too much work, yet it is quite simple. Much of the work is under way, our resources just need to be redirected to supplying the technology desperately needed.
The answer to all of our current global problems will be answered by simply designing a new social structure that will monitor and manage our resources on a global scale. Our technology is advanced enough TODAY, that we could eliminate all uneccessary labor(like financial, sales, marketing, government, etc.) and replace all production labor with machines(much has already been done) so that people will be provided with what ever they think they need, and have the free time to enjoy their lives as should be. This will free up so much wasted land and resources, it will be the greatest advancement Earth has ever seen.There is much more to life; friends, family, travelling to see the beautiful sights that Earth provides us, learning about culture, traditions and technology first hand, skiing, hiking, biking, boating, flying, fishing, baseball, soccer, crafting, sewing, drawing, painting, playing music, reading, writing, woodworking, designing, engineering, learning, etc. I could go on and on. The possibilities of building, creating, and over all caring, compassion and respect for life will be so much greater; it will be a completely different world. I can't wait for my children to grow up in a positive environment that allows them the freedom to do what they want to in life; to enjoy it and contibute to humanity in their own individual creativity. There is nothing scary about change when you already suffer from such terrible destruction. And if you could take the time to educate yourselves on the massive amount of disturbing things around the world, you would feel like I feel. I spend all my time learning about that which no one wants to hear, so I may educate and prepare to fix what we have built for ourselves. What is happening globally is a reflection of what you believe, everyone of us is responsible for letting life carry on this way. Future generations will be apalled by what we put up with; what we allow. At a young age, I was depressed and hated people for letting this happen, now I understand how people are mentally manipulated and mislead, now I know it is not entirely their fault. Yet, it is all of ours' duty to stop this, and our privilage to be part of such an amazing feat for humanity. Although I appreciated living now, and having available all of the fantastic inventions and contributions of past efforts, I still hated being born into such a sick world. Now I am glad to be here and be a part of making a better world for present and future generations. If you would like to participate in creating a better system please take a look at thevenusproject.com to see what the future will look like, because whether we do it now and end the suffering, or let it continue until it completely collapses on its own, the monetary systems basic structure is the flaw, and no reform can fix the problem of substituting real resources for some sort of financial trade system. Despite what you have been conditioned to believe, you are all equal, you all deserve your basic needs, every child is a blank slate and should have been born to the right of travel and access to past contributions and technology, along with the opportunity to contribute the same. You should not be forced to give your life and your labor for your survival. All of these concepts were fine when population was lower and people could travel to get what they needed from the land. Currency worked well for people to trade between foreign tribes and countries. Now it is outdated, and a dangerous game we're playing. There are people who realized this and have dedicated over sixty years of designing something better. We, at thezeitgeistmovement.com , are working out the details of a resource based economy. Please read all of the information carefully, give your opinion and take part in rebuilding the planet as it should be. Everything you know and experience today is the contribution of those before you. Imagine the possibilties, and help make them reality.Thanks- Jamey
7-30-2010 @ 8:25AM
Elaine said...
I think Hawaii and Arizona are both trying to deal with problems that our government should be taking care of.
Reply