Homelessness in Hawaii has grown significantly over the recent years defying the good image of Hawaii’s best side of paradise. In 2014, statistics showed that there were about 487 homeless people per 100,000 residents, out of the 487 homeless 219 of them are sheltered while 269 are unsheltered (Cocke 2015). Honolulu a tropical paradise seen in postcards and tourists photos does not show the homeless people sleeping in tents near Waikiki beach or men asleep next to public bathrooms or even drunkards and drug addicts loitering at an Oceanside park
According to The National Health Care for the Homeless Council attributes ill health as one of the major causes of homelessness this is because illness may lead to unemployment which in turn homelessness. Living in the streets or even crowded shelters creates new health problems like communicable diseases stress and mental illnesses. Partners in Care (PIT) an Oahu-based organization did a survey this year that showed about 993 homeless people suffer from mental illnesses; 48 suffer from HIV/AIDS, and 771 suffer from drug abuse disorders.
In the year 2000s as homeless numbers rose the city made it legal to camp in parks but due to complaints recently the city made it illegal to sit or sleep on sidewalks(Bussewitz 2015).The primary cause of homelessness in Hawaii is the scarcity of available housing and the nation's high cost of housing. Hoopae Pono Organization’s leader Laulani Teale instead of the government trying to relocate the homeless to sand island they should address the broader issue of economic inequality where only those who are financially stable can afford housing. Hawaii Peace and Justice Organization is fighting for a downsized military presence in Hawaii, which will free up military houses for rent and buying hence reducing homelessness.
I agree that the issue of homelessness in Hawaii cannot be solved by one great project and will require a multifaceted approach. The Hawaiian Government needs to partner up with health organizations and the U.S Department of Housing and Urban development to come up with solutions that will help end the homelessness of its people not just pass laws that make it illegal to live on the streets without giving solutions. In the meantime, the city should work to develop more shelters for this homeless people for their security and health.
References
Cocke, S. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.civilbeat.com/2015/01/new-maps-chart-homeless-across-the-nation-hawaii-ranks-1/.
Bussewitz, C. (2015). Retrieved from http://bigstory.ap.org/article/abbf8650cad5464d83a2345357d3b056/homelessness-hawaii-grows-defying-image-paradise.
