Homelessness in Hawaii has grown exponentially in recent years, with federal statistics showing that for every 100,000 people, 487 are homeless. This number has been increasing since 2010, despite the nation's economic recovery. Hawaii ranks above New York and Nevada in terms of its homelessness scenario.
Major causes include rising costs, low wage and limited land for people to occupy. Hawaii has always been known as the go-to holiday destination for people lying on the sand and taking in the open air. Now, this might be true for most of its homeless residents as well. Government officials have offered help by providing homeless services, banning sitting and lying down on Waikiki's sidewalks and have even proposed using shipping containers as temporary housing solutions, according to ABC News.
Homelessness in Hawaii has now reached a state of emergency and in response, Governor David Ige has diverted more than $1 million in funding to address the issue. But thousands still remain homeless. It is estimated that 15,000 Hawaiian residents are "homeless at some point of the year" and at least 11 percent of those individuals are children while 14 percent are military veterans, in a report submitted by Hope Services Hawaii.
However, as commonly assumed as it is, homeless people in Hawaii are not only drug abusers and mentally ill, but 22 percent of the state's homeless are actually employed, at least part-time, according to Inquisitr.
City officials are also backing $32 million in bonds in order to finance housing for the homeless. The state needs 27,000 affordable renting units by 2020, but officials have only been able to set aside 800 units this year and maintaining the existing units could cost $800 million over the next decade, according to Newsday.
Kionina Kaneso, a full-time fast-food worker, earns $8.75 an hour, which isn't enough for her to get a basic home.
"Where can I go?" Kaneso asked.
