After reading Debi Boucher's post on Homeless In America I remembered a post I wrote two years ago on ActiveRain: Oahu's North West Shore: The Homeless Situation. Homelessness is EVERYWHERE and not just in our country, state or city alone.
This is a follow up on our homeless situation of years past and present here on the island of Oahu.
It's sometimes a choice for those that choose to ‘live off the land' or it may be that one had a situation in their household that brought them to the point of homelessness. With the housing and economic crisis over the last few years we can guarantee many are homeless because they lost their job, or went through a tragedy such as a death in the family.
They no longer could afford the roof over their head.
I thought about all those around the world who went through a natural disaster such as the tsunami in Indonesia or the Earthquake in Haiti and just how many are homeless because of those circumstances.
We help them too.
Two years ago I took pictures of miles and miles of homeless families and individuals who had makeshift tents and bathrooms and who were trying to make the best of their situation. I guarantee many were displaced because they no longer could afford the inflated prices of rentals or to purchase a home here in Hawaii and decided to ‘live off the land and sea'.
Bottom line is that in Hawaii MANY choose to live this way in those tents and makeshift tarp homes on the beach because they don't want to give up a beloved pet and heck....it's warm most all year round so they can ‘camp out' most anywhere.
My older brother is out there...by choice.
The bad side was that the drug addicts who were not only dealing and using ‘in public' but at one point even selling their ‘wares' from those trading for the ‘stuff'......right there in the open on our beautiful beaches.
The very bottom line is that it is against the law to camp out (live as a residence)on City & County or State land. Our beach parks are not a place for everyone to camp out as their residence so they can have use of the bathroom facilities. Our residents and visitors from all over the world were not able to use some of these beach parks because it was overrun by these tent cities. It was not a pretty site.
The good part is that in this particular area on Oahu's North East side, another Homeless Shelter Structure was built. The City and County beaches were finally CLEANED UP regardless if they chose to move elsewhere in the bushes or take advantage of the shelters provided.
I had a transaction close for a home in the same area in late November 2009 and I took pictures of the cleaned up beaches. it was a beautiful site. Since then, I often wonder where they moved to and hope they decided to utilize what is offered to them from our state, local and non profit agencies.
After researching I found that there are MANY available agencies, shelters and centers to help the homeless. There are too many to list so please click on the following link for information should you need help.....
Hawaii Public Housing Authority- Services and Locations
THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE.
I wonder what I would do if faced with that situation............
(Picture from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority Site)
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Someone just gave me their input and idea that it would be interesting to see how each state/local areas help their homeless (or not) and what resources are available to help these citizens to get back on their feet.
Write a post...leave your link in the comment section...many would love to hear your stories!
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