Hawaiʻi-based organizations are pitching in to assist local families affected by the temporary suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits this month, as part of the ongoing federal government shutdown.
Further guidance and food information from the state Department of Human Services can be found here, or the DHS website at humanservices.hawaii.gov.
“As a department, our responsibility is to ensure every eligible household remains supported, informed and treated with dignity,” said DHS Director Ryan Yamane in a statement. “Our teams are working quickly to provide timely information, answer questions and coordinate local community food resources. We will be ready to resume issuances as soon as the federal government allows.”
Gov. Josh Green announced last week that $42.2 million via The Hawai‘i Food Assistance Program would be released around Nov. 14 for those missing SNAP benefits.
In the interim, local businesses and nonprofits are stepping up to fill gaps in funding, food and service. Here is a roundup of resources:
- Aloha United Way 2-1-1: A statewide helpline that connects those in need with more than 4,000 resources, including referrals to food resources in Isle communities. www.auw.org/211
- American Red Cross Hero Care Network: For military personnel and their families, call 1-877-272-7337 or click here.
- Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi (Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island) and Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. (Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi) have been contracted by the state to assist families with housing and utility costs under the Hawaiʻi Relief Program. Applications opened Oct. 29.
- Hawaiian Electric: Interest-free payment options at www.hawaiianelectric.com. You can also help someone with their electric bill by participating in the utility’s donation-based ʻOhana Energy Gift Card program.
- Food Banks: Hawaiʻi Foodbank (Oʻahu and Kauaʻi); Maui Food Bank (Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi); The Food Basket (Hawaiʻi Island).
- The Pantry by Feeding Hawaiʻi Together (Oʻahu): Recently opened “a special Monday distribution for federally impacted households,” according to its website.
Other upcoming food distribution sites this week include:
- Central Union Church (1660 S. Beretania); Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Armed Services YMCA (‘Ohana Open Market: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam); Wednesday, Nov. 6, form 1 to 3 p.m.
- Kalihi Union (2214 N. King Street); Thursday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Surfing the Nations (Surfer's Coffee, 64 Ohai Street); Thursday, Nov. 7, at 12:30 p.m. until supplies last
Last Monday, The Office of Hawaiian Affairs announced its commitment of $6.1 million in emergency relief funding “for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries” who may experience food insecurity, and loss of utilities and/or stable housing. OHA expects to begin distributing funds by Nov. 7, according to its website.
According to the organization, more than 47,000 Native Hawaiians receive SNAP benefits in amounts of about $409 per person and $757 per household.
“Hawaiʻi is home to approximately 24,600 civilian federal employees. While the precise number of Native Hawaiians within that workforce is not known, estimates place it at just under five thousand,” OHA said in a Oct. 27 announcement.
“These are unsettling times, and our beneficiaries are feeling it most,” said OHA Board of Trustees Chairperson Kaialiʻi Kahele at the time. “Families are missing paychecks, losing benefits, and facing impossible choices about how to feed their ʻohana. OHA will not wait on the sidelines — we are taking immediate action to help our people through this crisis.”
For nonprofits looking for support, Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, or HANO, continues to update its “Resources Related to Federal Actions” document, found on its website, which is complete with national directives and local insights.
On Sept. 30, Hawai’i Community Foundation reactivated its Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund “to support nonprofits whose funding has been cut, frozen, or reduced." See past reporting about the fund from Aloha State Daily here.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of resources. Know of other organizations pivoting to meet the current needs of the community? Email kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
