State legislature must do more to protect Hawaiʻi’s vulnerable, struggling renters
Our existing statutes don’t do nearly enough to keep renters stable in an unstable housing market; yet, year after year, the legislature has punted the issue down the road.
Recent state tax cuts leave many struggling families behind, in need of more help
Tax credits can help round out relief efforts at low cost to the state by targeting assistance only to the families that need additional support.
Hawaiʻi’s conveyance tax can be an effective tool to address our housing crisis
Hawaiʻi lawmakers have an opportunity to tailor the sales tax on real property so that it reinvests nonresident wealth into our island communities through affordable housing development.
New report calls upon the state to join a growing national movement and provide free meals to all Hawaiʻi public school students
Extending free meals to all public school students would cost about $25 million per year—about 1 percent of the DOE’s operating budget.
Hawaiʻi’s low wages relative to its cost of living put a serious strain on society, local economy
In a new report, Hawaiʻi Appleseed researchers demonstrate how chronically low wages have prevented Hawaiʻi’s working families from thriving, and outline the significant cost that poverty exacts from these families, from future generations, and from all of us.
Hawaiʻi's tenant-landlord mediation program kept hundreds housed amid pandemic fallout
Study aims to ascertain whether or not there are ways to increase housing stability by examining the temporary measures Hawaiʻi put into place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two local nonprofits receive $100,000 grant from Safeway and Safeway Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors
Hawaiʻi Appleseed and Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network are teaming up to ensure families with keiki can purchase enough food this summer.
Hawaiʻi drops to 44th in the nation in children’s summer meal participation
Fewer than 1 in 11 keiki in free or reduced-price school lunch were reached by summer meals.
Free grab-and-go meals for children and youth available through August 14
Community organizations respond to delayed start of public school year by keeping keiki feeding sites open.
Community partnership serves free meals to keiki during school closure
During this unplanned school closure, three SFSP sponsors—YMCA Honolulu, Parents and Children Together, and Palama Settlement—are opening food sites in low-income areas on Oʻahu for keiki.
Hawaiʻi drops to 51st in the nation for school breakfast participation
Even fewer low-income children in Hawaiʻi are starting their day with a healthy school breakfast.
Hawaiʻi Appleseed and PHOCUSED join forces
The merger of these social justice organizations is meant to forge a stronger connection between data-driven policy and impacted communities.
Official poverty data obscures reality faced by Hawaiʻi residents
The more accurate Supplemental Poverty Measure ranks Hawaiʻi at 13th highest for poverty in the nation.
Andy Fisher, food justice author, to speak at UH Manoa
Fisher will discuss why wealthy countries like the U.S. continue to struggle with food insecurity.
Hawaiʻi Appleseed announces Victor Geminiani’s retirement
The 50-year advocate for the low-income community and founder of Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice will retire on August 31, 2019.
Hawaiʻi’s ‘housing wage’ is highest in the nation
Renters need to work a total of 143 hours a week at minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom apartment.
Report examines the state of poverty in Hawaiʻi since the Great Recession
The state’s high cost of living and low wages has made recovery slow and painful for many families.
Half of Hawaiʻi’s residents are living paycheck-to-paycheck
An Appleseed-commissioned poll highlights the extent to which working families are now struggling to get by in Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiʻi families, businesses and economy would benefit greatly from state Earned Income Tax Credit
Now is the time for Hawaiʻi to invest in its residents and businesses by creating a state refundable EITC that puts dollars back into workers’ pockets and into the cash registers of local business.
Hawaiʻi’s affordable housing crisis is getting worse
Recommendations for policymakers on how to address our highest-in-the-nation housing costs and associated socioeconomic problems.