Every year there are about 2,500 evictions in the islands. And many fear more people will be out on the streets because of the high cost of housing.
“It's a huge number of families that are losing their homes that are being forced out on the streets,” said Gavin Thornton, executive director of the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice.
A new report by the nonprofit Hawaiʻi Appleseed estimates the costs of social services for evicted families who become homeless is substantial—with taxpayers paying about $30 million a year.
“Housing affordability is a huge problem in Hawaiʻi that's been getting worse and worse and worse every single year,” he added.