An Investment?

An Investment? was Originally Posted on August 4, 2013 by lavarock

There are times when legislators have to make a decision about finances and the cheapest choice is not always the most popular. Here’s an example.

Suppose you could spend $500 today or wait and spend $700 a month for years and years. The first option sounds like a deal and even with hidden costs is cheaper, but will it work?

The questions involve the homeless in Hawaii. It appears that in the past few years, people have moved out here hoping for a new chance, only to find that their hopes have dissolved and they are now homeless. If they go on assistance, they get about $700 a month, however there is a move afoot to buy them a one-way ticket back to where they came from (or any other location where they have family). This option would involve some investigation of the persons identity and ensuring there is someone on the other end to receive and take them in. It appears Hawaii does not want to just dump the person at some random airport and make them some other city’s problem, rather they want to relocate the homeless with family or friends.

Of course there are people here who are working hard at a job to relocate back on the mainland and they might feel, heck, why work myself to death trying to afford a plane ticket when all I have to do is stop working and get one for free.

Then again, some people who are homeless by design may think why take a one-time payment to move, then have to fend for myself when they can continue living here in a nice climate and get a monthly allowance.

It may be surprising but not all people living on then street have to live that way. I know of two people who moved out on the street, one in an experiment that lasted well over a decade and the other who could and was working but then enjoyed the carefree life of sleeping under the stars.

So the state has $300,000 over the next 3 years to test this investment and see if it “pans” out.