HAWAII’S HOMELESS: DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE 

Health Care for the Homeless Training for FQHCsJune 27, 2013

Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D.Special Assistant to the President, Food Security and SafetyUniversity of Hawaii

COUNTY AND PROGRAM

*Unduplicated count**17% of clients served by both programs

HAWAII KAUAI MAUI HONOLULU STATE

Total number of homeless*

1,336 636 2,358 9,650 13,980

Shelter programs

43% 52% 55% 65% 61%**N=8,507

Outreach programs

80% 61% 60% 51% 56%**N=7,804

AGE

ETHNICITY

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

SHELTER PROGRAMSPercent

OUTREACH PROGRAMSPercent

Less than high school diploma 24 20

High school diploma/GED 46 43

Some college or more 27 25

Unknown 2 13

EMPLOYMENT

Unemployed 71 76

Employed part-time 13 6

Employed full-time 15 4

Unknown 2 13

HAWAII RESIDENCY

TYPE OF HOUSEHOLD

FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH

In Hawai’i:

• Children: 2,954 from 0-12 years

• Youth: 416 from 13-17 years

Higher risk for:

• Food insecurity

• Health problems

• Exposure to violence; physical and sexual abuse

• Poor educational outcomes

• Juvenile delinquency

HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH

As adults, higher incidence of:

• Substance use

• Mental illness

• Attempted suicides

• Criminal activity

• Victimization

• Risky sexual behavior

• Homelessness

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

• Children in extreme poverty have the worst outcomes.

• Persistent poverty, especially in early childhood, has the severest impact.

• Prevention is cheaper than intervention.