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They have been trying to make strides to find permanent residence for some homeless, but I believe the number is still increasing, even in a "strong" economy. It will truly get out of control once the economy turns.
You have it backwards. Homelessness almost always increases in a strong economy. It decreases (or stabilizes) in a downturn.
Sure, that's why everyone did so well following October 29, 1929.
Well yes, if we're going into a full blown depression that's a whole other story.
Booming economies are generally accompanied by booming housing markets. Booming housing markets leads to gentrification. Gentrification directly increases the homeless population as new investments in new housing projects increases debt service to property owners and this forces property owners to raise rents. In some cases dramatically.
Look around Honolulu - we have some of the oldest most run down housing projects in the country especially when you consider the value of land. When these projects become so plagued with deferred maintenance issues, owners eventually decide to make renovations or tear down and build new (usually when the kids take over, decide to sell, etc). This form of gentrification is popular and concentrated during solid economic times. It inevitably increases the cost of housing (because of an improved housing product) and pushes people out onto the street.
There are properties in town where tenants are paying as little as $600 for a 2 bdrm that was originally purchased by the landlord in the 60's. Yes, the floors are caving in in certain areas. Appliances and finishes are 40 years old and falling apart. The roof leaks. Sunlight shines through the T&G walls (I've actually seen this). It hasn't been painted since 1970. But they are cheap because the owner does not put money into the home. If a landlord puts virtually zero into maintaining a home and has zero mortgage, rents can be very, very low. When that tenant gets evicted because the house is too dangerous to live in and needs to be demolished, they can no longer find a home for the rent they were paying - anywhere on the island.
On Oahu, it's not a lack of jobs that forces homelessness. It's the lack of housing at rental rates that are far below market.
On Oahu, it's not a lack of jobs that forces homelessness. It's the lack of housing at rental rates that are far below market.
Very few homeless on Oahu is due to rental rates.
Once you account for COFA immigrants - drug addicts - alcoholics - mentally ill - battered women - people who choose that lifestyle, then you have an extremely small subset that are homeless strictly due to economics - a couple of min wage people living together can even make it work.
Something that I caught on the radio, so it's bits and pieces..... a lot is because our laws allow for vagrancy, once those laws allowed it.... it happened. That also applied to the mentally ill, so a lot were let out of the hospitals.
Yeah, I know that info is not very specific.
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Once you account for COFA immigrants - drug addicts - alcoholics - mentally ill - battered women - people who choose that lifestyle, then you have an extremely small subset that are homeless strictly due to economics - a couple of min wage people living together can even make it work.
My point is a struggling economy does not increase the homeless population as the previous posted stated. The exact opposite occurs; this happens in many other cities across the US when economies boom.
And all those individuals you describe can still find homes to live in; they would be less likely to be homeless if they were offered housing at rates far below market. I stress the word far (below market) because some dilapidated homes on Oahu rent for 1/2 to 1/3 market rates on a per square foot basis. These homes may be considered to be entirely uninhabitable to most people but they ultimately keep people off the street.
It's important to note that society as a whole is very sensitive to seeing homeless on the streets. In my area there are homeless people. I'd say roughly 12-15 homeless live within half a mile (all directions) of my home. 5 years ago it was maybe 7-10. An increase of just 5 homeless within our neighborhood is enough where people that live here will say the homeless problem has gotten out of hand.
Once you account for COFA immigrants - drug addicts - alcoholics - mentally ill - battered women - people who choose that lifestyle, then you have an extremely small subset that are homeless strictly due to economics - a couple of min wage people living together can even make it work.
Glad you mentioned this. Just one question. Does Hawaii lead the nation in meth use in the workplace? Why if true?
Last edited by ForumHoundDog; 08-17-2016 at 02:05 PM..
Does Hawaii lead the nation in meth use in the workplace? Why?
According to a Doctor at UH - meth use in the workplace allows you to increase concentration when doing repetitive work - or as he put it "mind-numbing". Meth helps with that.
This increased concentration helps you in competitive work or classroom environments.
Of course - one must weigh that edge with loss of teeth - how it prematurely ages you - cardiac risk - and hallucinations
According to a Doctor at UH - meth use in the workplace allows you to increase concentration when doing repetitive work - or as he put it "mind-numbing". Meth helps with that.
This increased concentration helps you in competitive work or classroom environments.
Of course - one must weigh that edge with loss of teeth - how it prematurely ages you - cardiac risk - and hallucinations
I read this article and study recently online. "Hawaii workers test positive for the drug at a rate that's four times higher than the national average. One big reason is the island's service economy, in which many users take meth in an effort to work longer, harder and at multiple jobs". If that is true? How would economics not play a big role in the homeless problem on Oahu today if workers are four times more likely to abuse meth to get by?
Sorry don't know how to post a news story on here yet.
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