How my company made $1,000,000 a year housing the homeless

The city of Boise, Idaho has decided to end a decade-long legal battle to dismantle homeless encampments. Yesterday's settlement affects the entire West Coast, which has long been the epicenter of America's homelessness crisis. This is NPR's Kirk Ziegler. KIRK SIEGLER, ANNOUNCER: More than 12 years ago, several homeless people sued the city of Boise for giving them dozens of tickets for sleeping outside, even though there are local shelters. There are not enough beds. Boise has now taken the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and many West Coast cities have joined the lawsuit, arguing that they need broad powers to prevent the proliferation of homeless encampments. But in late 2019, the Supreme Court declined to hear Boyce's latest appeal. Now, Boyce has decided to end the fight, apparently acknowledging that it may not win in a lower court that found the ticket unconstitutional. The city is settling the lawsuit and is promising to spend more than $1

Hawaii deservedly is viewed by the rest of the world as “paradise”. Even so people living in the islands, and their business and community leadership, are well aware of the fact that Hawaii faces some significant economic and human problems. The biggest ones are the cost of living and the fact that more than half of Hawaii’s people are struggling financially despite a booming tourist economy and full employment. Even working several jobs and with frugal spending, a great many people living in Hawaii cannot make ends-meet and save money to cover future financial needs. That struggle affects every aspect of their lives and their children’s lives and all too often results in homelessness. Perhaps it sounds extreme, but data from credible government and research sources tells us that as much as half of Hawaii’s population is a pay-check or two away from homelessness. Hawaii no longer has the highest per capita rate of homelessness in the country. With a rate of 44.9 homeless people pe