Homeless in Hawaii by choice... on $6/day

Dueller · 05-11-2010, 07:18 AM

Listening to a story on homeless in Hawaii on PRM this A.M. Seems there is a growing trend of single males packing up, buying a one way ticket and dropping out to Hawaii. Apparently a number of men in particular are dropping out and moving to Hawaii. Various shelters provide lodging for $3/day, meals at a buck apiece in paradise. Medical/dental care provided for free. Thre hots, a cot and shots for $6 a day.

Interviewed an unemployed computer programmer who has done just that. Working minimum wage day jobs and seems pretty content although he did say he may spend the summer in Alaska for a change of scenery. Causing quite a strain on state budgets. Percentage of mainland males in homeless has skyrocketed in recent years....

Sigh....well I guess we now have interesting options if you get laid off

The Gaijin · 05-11-2010, 07:25 AM

And even if they get "island fever" and want to get back to the mainland - they cannot afford the return fare. This has been an issue for years.

legion · 05-11-2010, 07:31 AM

People will always behave in their self-interest.

People with nothing will move to the places with the best benefits they don't have to pay for.

People with a lot will move to the places with the lowest taxes.

So you end up with the places with the best social benefits gaining people expecting benefits and losing people who pay for them.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

The number of homeless in San Diego was amazing. Along the beach, it never gets above 80F, and never less than 40F.

If you have the following gear:

backpack
mountain bike
light sleeping bag
a few changes of clothes
small tent

You could easily live on the beach. There are showers. You can wash clothes at a laundramat. Get a PO box for mail. Free Government cell phone. Medicaid (Medical) medical. I expect that you can eat for under $10/day.

For entertainment, there is a library/community room about 2 blocks from the beach. I think the community room has food and cable TV.

Oh, and it doesn't rain as much in San Diego...

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

The homeless problem in CA is nuts. I can't believe my eyes when I'm there. I think San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara were the worst I saw there.

island911 · 05-11-2010, 08:48 AM

Oahu's west side had a huge homeless camp.

Thing is, Hawaii is actually a tough place to live like that.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Try Santa Monica sometime.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Try Santa Monica sometime.

I live here. Not such a big deal - just part of the landscape.

MT930 · 05-11-2010, 10:21 AM

I would imagine the homeless in Montana during the winter are either mentally ill or really stupid we have more and more all the time. We are seeing 30 Mph wind gusts and the prospects of freezing rain.

I just had two homeless guy's walk past my office windows couple hours ago.

Socal would be my pick place to be to be homeless.

nynor · 05-11-2010, 10:26 AM

my brother lives in hawaii. he said, "if you starve in hawaii, its because you are a quadriplegic with no friends." food literally grows on trees there. there are wild chickens everywhere, and boars. spearfishing is easy most of the year and a hawaiian sling can be purchased at walmart for about $20. if i can do it, anyone can do it. there is a HUGE "hippy" camp on one of the beaches. living the dream, baby.

edit: for clarification, he lives on kuauaii, hence the abundance of chickens.

Laneco · 05-11-2010, 10:49 AM

Our daughter and her best friend spent spent seven months in Hawaii on the WWOOF program (Worldwide Work on Organic Farms). Trade work for room and board. Seven months of paradise for about 4 or 5 hours of work a day. One farm gave them whatever they could pick and a $15 per week stipend for food. They had money left over every week....

Now I want to go to Hawaii!

angela

Burnin' oil · 05-11-2010, 01:32 PM

My shiftless brother spent years in Europe WWOOFing.

If I was homeless, I would go where it is warm.

Bill Douglas · 05-11-2010, 01:50 PM

Not that I'm overly into health, but I spent a day at a health spa Kimi Ora Spa Resort Hotel in Kaiteriteri, Nelson NZ - Home Page - health wellness package, resort package, health package, ... and there were some BEAUTIFUL German girls WWOOFing there. Nice to share a spa pool with someone soooo good looking. They were traveling the world for a year to two WWOOFing.

Rufblackbird · 05-11-2010, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by island911

Oahu's west side had a huge homeless camp.

Thing is, Hawaii is actually a tough place to live like that.

right...that's where Dog (the bounty hunter) catches most of the people!

I love Hawaii, and miss it there as it is "home", but if I were homeless I don't know if I could even afford it.

Never did hear of the $6/ day program...should've taken advantage of that instead of the $1100/mo I was paying for rent!

Rufblackbird · 05-12-2010, 11:17 PM

one of my friends in Hawaii just put this up on her facebook. Wow. just wow.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100512/NEWS01/5120349/Homeless+migration+to+Hawaii+straining+social+serv ices

Joeaksa · 05-13-2010, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Try Santa Monica sometime.

I will be next week. Not really looking forward to it...

campbellcj · 05-13-2010, 10:30 AM

Street people are so ubiquitous and accepted in SaMo that after a while you don't even "see" them anymore.

fxeditor · fxeditor's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

I will be next week. Not really looking forward to it...

Although Santa Monica is "The home of the homeless", it's also one of the most affluent areas of LA. There are many areas where the vagrants are non-existent. Places like Montana street are very nice indeed, and you won't find any beggars.

If you want to grab a beer while you are out this way, let's try and set something up with the SoCal Pelicans!

Michael

Joeaksa · 05-13-2010, 06:50 PM

Mike,

Lets do it.

Was planning on posting something tonight or tomorrow on the OT about it.

Joe

campbellcj · 05-13-2010, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxeditor

Although Santa Monica is "The home of the homeless", it's also one of the most affluent areas of LA. There are many areas where the vagrants are non-existent. Places like Montana street are very nice indeed, and you won't find any beggars.

I used to live on Montana, and once or twice we had homeless folks choose our front porch for a mid-day snooze...not often, granted. Our 120lb Akita might have been somewhat of a deterrent. Now this was no mansion by any stretch -- bungalow would be generous -- but right down the road from the multi $mil properties.

The only reason I've kept my office there is that it's relatively a convenient and attractive location for my team -- mainly single (IT) guys in their 20's and 30's. Otherwise I would be out of there in a blink.