Hawaii has long been considered as one of the most beautiful vacation spots in the Pacific, but the island paradise has suffered from a growing number of homeless people in recent years.
According to the latest federal statistics, the state currently has 487 displaced individuals for every 100,000 people, giving it the highest rate per capita in the United States ahead of Nevada and New York.
Driven by a rise in living expenses, inadequate wages and few available lands, the housing problem in Hawaii is starting to put a dent on the island's traditional image as a top-rated destination for vacationers.
State officials have tried to address the issue, particularly on the highly populated island of Oahu. Some of the government's recent efforts include offering services to the homeless, banning people from lying or sitting on sidewalks in Waikiki and proposing to use shipping containers as makeshift houses.
Hawaii governor David Ige has declared a state of emergency on homelessness on the islands that emphasize the depth of the situation.
Despite shelters and programs being offered to the homeless, service providers said there are fewer empty beds available than are needed. On Oahu Island, where 4,900 out of the 7,620 displaced Hawaiians live, around 550 beds remain empty on any given night.
Hawaii also needs around 27,000 affordable units for rental by 2020. Lawmakers, however, only set aside funds enough to build 800 rental homes this year. The state estimates that maintaining the current public housing program could cost the government around $800 million over the next 10 years.
Issues regarding the program for government-run public housing have been raised, with as many as 10,000 homeless individuals having to wait five years or more before they are given aid.
The waiting list for rent assistance in private housing has also been closed for almost a decade because of long processing periods.
Scott Morishige, Hawaii's coordinator on homelessness, reported that the number of homeless families in the state has increased by 46 percent between 2014 and 2015 as a result of changes in the policy for public housing and services for mental health.
While officials in Hawaii are still trying to develop ways on how to effectively address the ongoing housing problem, Connie Mitchell, director of homeless service provider Institute for Human Services, said the Public Housing Authority has launched a crackdown on individuals living in units with family members or friends who were not included in the original lease.
Photo: Franco Folini | Flickr
