Hawaii mulls work-for-a-day program to help homeless people
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / MARCH 2016
The homeless encampment at Kakaako Makai Gateway Park.
Hawaii is looking for solutions to its homelessness crisis, and lawmakers are considering a program to help connect homeless people with day jobs.
They’re modeling the three-year program after a similar approach in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Tucson, Arizona.
The bill passed by the state Senate Tuesday also would provide workers with a lunch and a ride back to a shelter at the end of the work day.
Hawaii has the highest rate of homelessness per capita in the nation. The program would begin on the island of Oahu, where most of Hawaii’s homeless people live.
Many homeless people don’t have internet access or cars, and The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii says the bill could help surmount those barriers.
20 responses to “Hawaii mulls work-for-a-day program to help homeless people”
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A program similar to this suggestion has worked well in other states. I say go for it. Anything to help restore dignity and self worth is good. About time we do this. Homeless sometimes depend only on handouts which is what most of the public sees. I’d like to see something in place where they are paid a wage so that they can get basic essentials and the work earns them a place to sleep safely for the night. State and city have the power to overcome legalese, do it, not just keep thinking or considering this.
Superb comment!
agree totally. Some might take advantage of the chance. Some won’t. But anything is better than what we have now.
This is an excellent idea. People on welfare should not expect a “free” check. There’s much to be done with cleanup of this state.
Hawaii, being a Democrat state is not a right to work state–will that matter???
“ride back to a shelter at the end of the work day” – I presume by this statement that we are only going to provide the work to people who are staying in a shelter. We shouldn’t be providing anything to any homeless that are making a mess of our parks.
“Homelessness is a temporary condition that people fall into when they cannot afford to pay for a place to live, or when their current home is unsafe or unstable. Other factors, such as job loss, physical and mental disability, various hardships—including personal, and drug addiction can accelerate people’s slide into poverty, and for some, eventual homelessness, especially in the absence of proper social services. The lack of housing, access to healthcare, and supportive services, then act as others barriers that keep individuals from moving into “homefullnesss”.”
“Homelessness is also a state of vulnerability – to health risks, violence, and harassment by police; heightened exposure to the elements; and the absence of privacy. Homelessness can turn into a more permanent condition when people become alienated from society and/or it becomes increasingly difficult and frustrating to reintegrate into the “mainstream”. However, homelessness is not an inherent quality of trait and it is not linked with any particular identity, nor does it define the people experiencing it. Each individual is unique and must be addressed in that way, and each person is worthy of being treated equally in society and should be given the utmost opportunity to succeed and transition out of a state of homelessness. Homeless people are also not a “population” of their own; they are individuals who have every right to the access afforded to people in society. Thus, it is important that we recognize that the greatest contribution one can make towards ending homelessness is acknowledging someone with a smile or a nod and showing that we recognize them—most importantly, that we recognize them as “HUMAN BEINGS”.”
This program may be an avenue for those involved to build self esteem and help them reach attainable goals. They got to start somewhere.
Agreed.
I’m sure homeless could be considered, however what kind of employees can one expect?
Do they possess the ‘right’ qualities an employer requires like good work ethics and other moral traits ?
Employers may require background investigations when dealing with the homeless in certain situations. Are they ex-felons, drug abusers, registered as a sex-offenders or have any psychological issues that may disqualify them ?
With a 3.1% unemployment rate I’m sure there are employers willing to hire the homeless.
Unions will say “They are stealing our jobs!”.
Excellent point!
hmmm but on second thought UNIONS will welcome it..less work for them at the same PAY/BENEFITS.
I can imagine the UNION MEMBERS thinking [GO FOR IT HOMELESS!]
I think the Unions should take a leadership role in jobs for the homeless–they could sure use the PR.
No they won’t.
lets try it ..aloha
I can hear the homeless thinking..[LEAD BY EXAMPLE POLS!!!!]
Now they think of it. This should have been done years ago. When I was a teenager, my mother told me to go out and get a job if you want a car and pocket money to look like a big shot and I’ve been working ever since.
Graffiti clean up would be a good place to have them start. I’m tired of seeing that grow in Honolulu, and the skills required shouldn’t too much of a stretch for them to take on other than the elderly ones.
Details, please, details. Will the homeless be working for private businesses or for the government? If for the government, wouldn’t that make them government employees and entitle them to government benefits in addition to their hourly pay? If homeless people who participate in this work program are receiving welfare for not working, will their welfare payments be adjusted accordingly? It is worth nothing that Hawaii leads the nation as the state with the highest welfare payouts of more the $29 an hour. It will be a tough sell to get a homeless person on welfare to work for a day to make less than $29.
I was raised by hard working parents. What I was taught was “no workie = no pay” … or as Julie Andrews put in her song ” … nothing comes from nothing … nothing ever could …”. It seems like the the Parks Department could use a lot of help!! Our current Mayor will probably be looking out for the unions rice bowl.