The pandemic has transformed how aid groups help elderly in need
Federal COVID-19 relief funds helped local groups coordinate outreach to better serve kupuna who were often isolated during the pandemic.
Economic recovery should focus on working families
And Hawaiʻi’s lawmakers should pass legislation that supports workers’ well-being.
Should I stay or should I go? The lack of affordable housing in Hawaiʻi
The cost of living in Hawaiʻi continues to rise, most notably due to the lack of affordable housing. How do we find a feasible solution?
Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center stresses importance of city’s rent relief program
After just four hours, the city's new rent relief program was suspended because so many people applied. The $114 million in federal money is for back and future rent and utilities.
Bill would expand DA BUX food program
The measure is intended to provide low-income people easier access to healthier food choices and to help local farmers and ranchers.
Here’s how tax increases are shaking out in the Hawaiʻi legislature
Senators moved to raise income taxes on high earners, and the House passed capital gains and inheritance tax increases.
State offers more food stamp flexibility amid record participation
Most SNAP applications are now processed online and members can now use their EBT cards to make online purchases for pick-up at select Walmart locations.
Over 400 organizations urge senate to pass American Rescue Plan for state and local aid
The organizations highlighted how state and local budgets have been slashed, causing job losses in critical sectors like education and healthcare that will be central to addressing the public health crisis.
Minimum wage hike up to timing
Hawaiʻi’s high cost of living, makes a minimum wage increase vital for low-income workers, including many who have been on the pandemic’s front lines.
‘Bold’ plan to develop leasehold condos on state land renewed
The biggest drawback identified in the analysis is that using public land for leasehold housing is controversial.
Hawaiʻi ranks 50th in low-income children participating in national school breakfast program
Some 25,559 low-income Hawaiʻi children participated in the School Breakfast Program during the 2019–2020 school year—or about 40 percent of those eligible.
Gaps in Hawaiʻi eviction moratorium leave some renters scrambling for housing
The state eviction moratorium doesn’t protect every renter. And being kicked out when you’re unemployed makes finding housing much harder.
Furloughs likely to worsen delays of unemployment, Medicaid and SNAP claims
Governor Ige’s plan to furlough state workers could further increase the already-maddening length of time it takes to process critical services like unemployment.
Hawaiʻi landlords rejecting $8M in overdue rent
Some island landlords have rejected about $8 million in direct payments to cover the rents they’re owed because they do not have general excise tax licenses and are not paying taxes on their rental income.
As economic pain of pandemic widens, need for food stamps soars
The number of Hawaiʻi residents receiving SNAP benefits has risen from about 155,000 last year to 179,000—a 15.4 percent increase.
Schatz: don’t fixate on airports when main spread in communities
With the Republican-controlled Senate fixated on confirming President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, additional pandemic aid is doubtful anytime soon.
Sowing seeds of service
“Our work is to bring all these different sectors together and create lasting solutions and changes.”
Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige unveils $100M program to help renters affected by pandemic
Under the program, payments could go as high as $2,000 per month on Oʻahu and $1,500 per month on the neighbor islands.
The Conversation: Keeping an eye on housing evictions
The threat of eviction continues to loom over thousands of island residents as the state moratorium runs out at the end of the month.
Not politics as usual
To address socioeconomic inequality, Hawaiʻi’s decision-makers need to come up with an effective problem-solving process so stakeholders can come together to achieve concrete solutions.