User:Ajpata/Homeless Services in Hawaii

= Homeless Services in Hawaii = Homeless Services in Hawaii allow those that are experiencing homelessness to access various necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter. Local organizations in Hawaii, whether they are run by the government or non-profit organizations, provide these resources for those in need. In addition, the state of Hawaii also follows the Housing First approach to ending homelessness. Finally, housing projects which provide affordable housing for those who are currently experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, are also another major type of service provided.

Definition
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formally defines homelessness as those who fall under 4 categories. The first two categories are those who are literally homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. This means that a family/ individual completely lacks an adequate nighttime residence or is going to lose this residence in the near future. The third category are those that fall under other federal statuses such as unaccompanied youths. The fourth and final category are those who have fled or are fleeing from domestic abuse, and thus have no residence.

Statistics
According to the 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) published by the HUD, Hawaii is ranked as the second highest state in the nation for rate of homelessness per capita. The total estimate of people in Hawaii experiencing homelessness was 6,412 as of January 2019. Also, with a rate of 44.9 per 10,000 people experiencing homelessness, Hawaii's rates fall behind only that of New York which has a rate of 46.4 per 10,000 people.

Local Organizations
There are many categories for the different kinds of homeless service organizations in Hawaii. Regardless of whether they are run by the government or a non-profit organization, these local organizations provide various services to help those experiencing homelessness. For example, one of the most notable organizations run by a non-profit organization would be the Institute for Human Services (IHS), however there are many other local organizations which all help in some sort of way or form. Overall, some of the different organization categories include, but are not limited to:

Food Programs
Food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens are just some of the different programs from which the homelessness can access this necessity. However, food banks usually do not service those experiencing homelessness directly, but rather, they provide resources to the soup kitchens and the like. Food pantries, soup kitchens, and other similar programs are usually the ones who directly serve daily meals, most of which are run on a voluntary basis.

Emergency Shelters
Emergency homeless shelters usually service those who are unsheltered and they provide a place for these people to stay. These shelters are a temporary solution for those experiencing homelessness and are not meant to be the long-term or final destination for these people. In addition, they also assist those looking for other suitable housing options by providing the needed application documents and can provide assistance on developing an appropriate housing plan.

Outreach Programs
Outreach programs act as an intermediary resource which helps to connect the unsheltered homeless to other homeless services or programs. Two of their main services include providing a connection to healthcare services and the different emergency shelters throughout the islands. Some also have connections to other permanent housing programs. These programs can help those experiencing homelessness to obtain important legal documents, such as their identification records, and also provide other civil legal services.

Definition
Housing First is both an approach to ending homelessness and a specific type of service program. This approach recognizes that stable housing is the first step to escaping homelessness and improving a person's quality of life. Unlike other approaches, it also emphasizes that permanent housing for those experiencing homeless should come before anything else, even before the treatment of behavioral problems or substance abuse. The State of Hawaii has implemented this type of approach, as well as several programs which are based around this principle. However, these programs not only focus on housing first, but also the retention of stable housing so that a person does not become homeless again.

Hawaii Pathways Project
The Hawaii Pathways Project was one of the first programs implemented in the State of Hawaii which followed the Housing First approach. Starting with a total of 99 clients in August 2014, this project consisted of those who were chronically homeless for more than 6 years, with 26% also being homeless for more than 10 years. In addition, 25% of the clients had substance abuse issues, 15% had a serious mental illness, and the remaining 60% had both simultaneously. The project concluded in September 2017, with 11 clients no longer participating due to death or long term hospitalization, which left a total 88 clients. Of these 88, 79 clients remained in stable permanent housing, which corresponds to a retention rate of 90%. Overall, the success of this project has led to the conclusion that the Housing First approach is effective, even when dealing with those who are chronically homeless or face other difficulties such as substance abuse.

Importance in Hawaii
In the United States, a house is considered affordable when the housing expenses do not exceed 30% of that family/ individual's income. This is important because Hawaii currently has one of the highest cost of living in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Hawaii had a Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 118.1, which means that the price of items in Hawaii were 18.1% above the national average. Higher RPP's also corresponded with higher rents, which means that Hawaii also has an above average renting/ housing cost.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided an income limit document for 2020 which determines eligibility for assisted housing programs. They determined three different levels of income: low, very low, and extremely low. This document determined that in Hawaii, a low income individual makes $54,400 annually, a very low income individual makes $34,000 annually, and an extremely low income individual makes just $20,400 in a year. For comparison, Hawaii's minimum wage has been $10.10 an hour since 2018. That means a full time minimum wage worker would make $21,008 in a year while working 40 hour weeks. $21,008 would just barely be above the extremely low income level and even the low income level is more than 2.5 times as much.