Hawaii Senate advances program to return homeless visitors to mainland

A Hawaii Senate committee advanced a bill to make a program permanent that helps homeless individuals return to supportive family members on the mainland, reducing state costs.

by Jeremy Yurow, Court House News, April 2, 2025

HONOLULU (CN) — The Hawaii Senate advanced a bill Wednesday that would permanently establish a program helping homeless individuals on the islands reconnect with family members in their home states.

House Bill 212, which passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee by unanimous 13-0 vote, would make the Return-to-Home program permanent following what lawmakers describe as a successful pilot program. It has reportedly helped over 130 homeless individuals return to their mainland homes since 2023.

"We started as a pilot program at phase three, and it's been very successful, so we're still allocating money to that and making it permanent so that we can continue this long after the date of the previous Act," state Representative Adrian Tam, one of the bill's primary sponsors, told Courthouse News.

The program addresses a specific aspect of Hawaii's homelessness challenge: mainland residents who arrive on the islands expecting to find work and housing, only to be confronted with Hawaii's high cost of living and limited housing availability.

"There are many people in Hawaii living in paradise looking ahead. They often do have a job lined up, or they're hoping to get a job, and they soon realize that it is really difficult to make ends meet here," Tam said. "The cost of living is high here, primarily because we have a scarcity of land in terms of housing. We have to ship a lot of our goods and certain products because we are an island."

The Return-to-Home program connects homeless individuals with family members or support networks in their home states who can help them get back on their feet. The program then facilitates transportation back to the mainland, with family members typically covering half the cost when possible.

"This program was established back in 2023 to try to add an option system where those who are from the continent can go into the program, and we will try to reconnect them with someone, with a relative back on the mainland and help them get a ticket back," said Tam.

Under the bill, the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions would coordinate the voluntary program and establish public-private partnerships with organizations to administer it. Participants can only use the program once and must sign an agreement confirming this.

Tam suggested that the program has garnered widespread bipartisan support because of its voluntary nature and focus on family reunification rather than simply relocating homeless individuals.

"We're not forcing people into the program and forcing them to leave," Tam said. "One of the best things about this program is that we do connect someone with a relative or family member that can help them get back on their feet once they return, rather than returning them and saying, well, you're on your own."

Tam estimates the program saves the state approximately $11.2 million per year by reducing the need for ongoing social services. The bill does not propose an estimated cost of the program, however, and leaves a section specifying the dollar amount blank.

The program partners with The Institute for Human Services, and seeks participation from local airlines, cruise lines, charter companies, homeless programs, travel agencies and the visitor industry for effective implementation.

It also helps participants prepare for travel by obtaining proper identification, accessing public transportation to the airport, providing orientation for airport security and ensuring sufficient personal hygiene.

Hawaii consistently ranks as the most expensive state in the United States, with a cost-of-living index of 193.3—nearly twice the national average — according to World Population Review. Housing costs are particularly high, with the median price of a single-family home at $730,511 and renters paying an average of $2,399 for a two-bedroom apartment.

Additionally, Hawaii has the fourth-highest homelessness rate in the nation, with 41 homeless individuals per 10,000 residents— more than twice the national rate of 18 per 10,000—according to the Health Resources & Services Administration.