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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
The 2024 Point in Time Count found that Oahu’s homeless population grew 12% in one year.
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Q: Regarding Oahu’s growing homeless population, we often hear about a program that flies people back to the mainland. Does this program only help people who go to one of the fifty US states? What about people who come from somewhere else and want/need to return there? Individuals may want to return to family in Guam or Palau, for example. Would they qualify?
Answer: No to the first question, and yes to the second, assuming they otherwise qualify for the partial assistance.
“The ‘Return to Home’ program, together with the individual, their family or an advocate, subsidizes the return of an unhoused person to a pre-arranged place of residence on a neighboring island, the mainland or another country. The individual or their support network would pay for half the cost of a round-trip flight,” John Mizuno, the governor’s national coordinator for homelessness and housing solutions, said in an email.
“The program does not offer free travel to any destination. The participating person must have a family or support unit at the destination willing to pay for, accept and accommodate half of the return fare,” he said.
The Institute for Human Services is the administrator on Oahu, and potential participants generally work with an outreach provider when they are notified of the program. The screening/intake form asks when and why the person moved to Hawaii; how long they have been homeless; whether they have a job, receive government assistance or have other sources of income; and numerous other questions, including whether they are a U.S. citizen, their primary language, race and ethnic background.
The state will add an additional $500,000 to Return to Home funding this year, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
The 2024 Point in Time Count, which found Oahu’s homeless population grew 12% in one year, does not specify how long those surveyed have lived on the island. Of the 4,494 people counted, 2,766 were unsheltered, meaning they lived outdoors, along sidewalks, beaches, drainage canals, and elsewhere; that was a spike of 17% from the year before.
Q: Is the Department of Health still issuing updates on COVID-19? I was so surprised to hear that an acquaintance had recently been hospitalized.
A: Yes, the State of Hawaii’s COVID-19 data dashboards are posted at . Last week’s data showed an average of 42 hospital admissions and four patients in ICU beds every day; there were zero deaths, according to a DOH summary.
Q: Will the salmonella outbreak impact Oahu? My neighbor has a chicken coop.
A: As of Thursday, Hawaii was not among the 29 states where 109 people have become ill with salmonella after touching or caring for backyard poultry, according to an update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, “this outbreak may not be limited to states with known illnesses, and the actual number of sick people is likely much higher than the reported number. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for salmonella,” the CDC said.
“Backyard poultry, such as chickens and ducks, can carry salmonella bacteria even if they appear healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to anything in the areas where the poultry live and roam,” the agency said, adding urges people to “always wash.” your hands with soap and water immediately after touching backyard poultry, their eggs, or anything else in the environment where they live and roam.
Waialua City Hall
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s town hall in Waialua has been reset after the original date was canceled due to bad weather. The forum will take place at Waialua Elementary School on June 20 at 7 p.m., according to a news release from the mayor’s office.
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