Hawai’i Appleseed Center: Creating a Fairer State Tax System and Economy for All Families
ITEP Work in ActionOur state’s lower-income families are faced with almost insurmountable structural challenges to escaping poverty. They face the highest cost of living and highest cost of shelter in the nation, with three-quarters of extremely low-income people spending over half of their income on shelter. At the same time, our wages are the lowest in the nation when adjusted for the cost of living, and people in poverty are paying more in taxes than residents in all but three states.
The report recommends that during its 2014 session, our legislature adopt a package of five policies that will significantly increase the economic vitality of our low and moderate-income residents.