“Dumping” Homeless To Hawaii
I was interviewed yesterday by the Hawaiian television news station, KHON, regarding that state’s concern of mainland cities flying their homeless people to Hawaii. The logic is that it would be harder for them to return back to their original community. (An airplane ticket is expensive.)
A local Honolulu City Council member is adamant that this practice is going on. They have interviewed local homeless people in Honolulu, and found a handful of people who were paid to go to Hawaii. Others from the mainland came to Hawaii with their own resources.
Homeless “dumping” is not just a local or regional issue. I write about this in my book. Where cities conveniently give rides to homeless people to other communities. One city in Los Angeles County used to post on its website where the feeding programs are—and they were conveniently located in another city.
Homelessness is a national issue. So it is not surprising for people who are homeless to be sent across state lines. Or in this case, across the Pacific Ocean.
It just shows, once again, that local jurisdictions are not willing to invest enough resources to build a housing and service infrastructure that seriously addresses homelessness.
(Pic from http://pacificprogress.org)
A local Honolulu City Council member is adamant that this practice is going on. They have interviewed local homeless people in Honolulu, and found a handful of people who were paid to go to Hawaii. Others from the mainland came to Hawaii with their own resources.
Homeless “dumping” is not just a local or regional issue. I write about this in my book. Where cities conveniently give rides to homeless people to other communities. One city in Los Angeles County used to post on its website where the feeding programs are—and they were conveniently located in another city.
Homelessness is a national issue. So it is not surprising for people who are homeless to be sent across state lines. Or in this case, across the Pacific Ocean.
It just shows, once again, that local jurisdictions are not willing to invest enough resources to build a housing and service infrastructure that seriously addresses homelessness.
(Pic from http://pacificprogress.org)
posted by LA's Homeless Blog at
8:36 AM
3 Comments:
My question is, Why Hawaii? This is an island, there is not much places to go. We already have enough Hawaiian people who are homeless, why send more who are not from here?
why would you guys in the mainland decide to dump your homeless people on our island we already have enough.
and it is not the fact that the homeless people dont work or what ever they actually do work. and most of them are veterans of our country and they cant afford a home. now thats the governments fault, the government should have supported them. this is a stupid idea!!!!
Having lived in Hawai'i for over 30 years, I can vouch for many of the homeless being employed, sometimes with "head of family" status. To get a box of cereal and a pint of milk for the small child, then get Dad to work before going to apply for a campsite permit for next week is a Monday routine for a number of mothers coming into the Kailua Shell Station.
Post Katrina, the Government started offering the FIMA trailers to the occupants because they didn't know what else to do with them. Is there a possible solution in this equation somewhere?
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