Hawaiʻi nonprofits want more say in how state spends federal virus aid

Hawaiʻi nonprofits want the state to create an office dedicated to maximizing federal funding in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and adopt a slew of policy changes aimed at broadening the safety net for working families.

More than 60 nonprofits, part of the Working Families Coalition, have signed onto a plan with wide-ranging recommendations for managing the coronavirus crisis in Hawaiʻi, with an eye to helping low-income and vulnerable families.

The group’s biggest priorities are flattening the curve of the virus and providing for food and shelter for Hawaiʻi residents. At the crux of their proposal is the idea that the state and city need to better take advantage of an estimated $4 billion in available federal funds.

Gavin Thornton, executive director of the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, said it would be OK if the state assigned existing workers to that task instead of creating a whole new office, but that it should be a dedicated effort.

“What’s really important is that you have people who are laser-focused on this issue. Our concern is if this is just part of someone’s job it’s going to slip through,” he said.