February 2024 – RYSE Newsletter

Sidney Bandy is a social worker serving the houseless community in Hawai’i. Sidney has spent most of her life on O’ahu, learning from the culturally rich and overwhelmingly diverse populations who call the islands home.

Sidney attended the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, where she received a master’s in social work. While completing her education, Sidney worked with survivors of domestic violence; houseless adults being released from incarceration who are diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illnesses.

There are approximately 27.6 million people subjected to human trafficking around the world. In Hawaii, more than two-thirds of those who are trafficked reported that they are currently houseless or have experienced houselessness. According to the National Network for Youth, “1 in 5 runaway and houseless youth are victims of human trafficking-inclusive of sex and labor trafficking.”

By official counts, just a handful of homeless teens live on the streets of Hawaiʻi. Those who try to help them suggest that’s all wrong, that there are many more — perhaps 150 doing their best not to be counted.

They hide in tents at beach parks. On a friend or stranger’s couch. Far back in the valleys that stretch out of towns.