In an effort to reduce the homeless population in Hawaii, the state has introduced a new program that will give individuals a one-way ticket back to the continental U.S.
Supporters of this initiative believe Hawaii will save millions on social services and welfare. The “return to home” three-year pilot program is set to launch this fiscal year. Officials have set aside an initial $100,000 to fund the program, which will be run by the state Department of Human Services.
Individuals are only eligible to participate once in the program. State Rep. Rida Cabanilla explains:
Others are skeptical, believing this program will be expensive and inefficient. Department spokeswoman Kayla Rosenfeld expressed her doubts on Tuesday.
Hawaii is not the first state to consider such a program. New York City, San Francisco, Baton Rouge, La., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., have all funded one-way tickets out of their cities for the homeless.
Whether this program voluntarily reunites people with loved ones or fails miserably, only time will tell. We’ll keep you posted.
SOURCE: MSN
