June 18, 2015—Hawaii News Now

State figures released Thursday indicate homelessness on Hawai‘i Island has more than doubled in the last two years. According the annual point-in-time count conducted every January, the homeless population on Hawai‘i Island has increased from 557 in 2013 to 869 in 2014 and 1,241 in 2015.

The number of sheltered homeless have risen from 160 to 220 in those 3 years, while unsheltered have risen from 397 to 1,021 in that same time frame.

“We’ve been experiencing a high increase in homelessness — 53% from fiscal year 2013 to 2014.  We’ve seen an increase in all areas of the island– Hilo, Pahoa, Oceanview, Kailua-Kona, Honoka’a. On nearly every island in every region — homelessness is increasing,” said  Brandee Menino, Hope Services Hawai’i CEO. Read/watch more…