Bums living on the Hawaiian Islands

Tourism and military jobs are probably the most essential things to the Hawaiian Islands economy. About $200 a day is spent, as outlined by NPR, by tourists for hotels, meals, and entertainments. Only $3 a day is spent by the homeless for room, board, and full health coverage within the Hawaiian Islands. Public food lines help feed locals experiencing dire straits, but the vast majority of individuals waiting for meals aren’t even from the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiian Islands has more bums

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. Part of the draw for out-of-state immigrants is Hawaii’s 5 cent redemption fee for plastic bottles and aluminum cans. $40 a day is made by Gary Phillips in Hawaii rather than the little amount he made in San Diego previously. The state will give individuals like Phillips free health care, $200 a month in food stamps, and let them sleep at the $3 shelter that gives three meals. With state support, they typically do not even need more fast cash.

Paradise for vacationers and homeless alike

Hawaii is using Medicaid and tax refunds to try and cover their spending budget deficit which is $1.2 billion. This is 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 third of her shelter’s spending budget is spent on this type of new arrival. 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 while 21 percent of the city’s homeless population was Caucasian in 2005, more than 43 percent are Caucasian in 2010. These people tend to be single middle-aged people. These people get the money to fly over while 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 determine whether a person really needs the government help or now. Anyone who needs emergency money should be able to take advantage of these programs instead of those just abusing the system.

UPDATE – Hawaii has tried sending homeless individuals back to the mainland. New York has decided to fly them BACK to Hawaii.

Find more details on this subject

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