[angersock]

Be that as it may, getting transport over to those other, cheaper places is not necessarily easy or affordable.

[pjscott]

In some cities, most notably New York, homeless people can get free transportation out. Usually it's just bus fare, which is admirably cheap by the standards of government social programs.

[lutusp]

Hawaii also. The state of Hawaii has started a program that gives free one-way airline tickets to homeless people who decide they want to leave.

http://rt.com/usa/hawaii-one-way-tickets-homeless-824/

Now if only New York will offer airline tickets instead of bus tickets, the homeless can commute back and forth between New York and Hawaii forever. :)

[cowsandmilk]

NYC offers plane tickets:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/nyregion/29oneway.html

Also, SF has the Homeward Bound program, which is similar:

http://www.sfhsa.org/79.htm