By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
The Hawai‘i Women’s Coalition yesterday called for support on bills aimed at helping women and families out of poverty and ending cycles of substance abuse and crime.
The coalition, made up of more than 200 private and professional groups, government agencies and others, described its 2001 legislative package and emphasized the necessity of helping poor families in light of federal welfare reform.
The federal welfare reform law allows most families to collect welfare benefits for only five years. State officials have estimated that about 900 families have remained on welfare continuously since the 1996 law took effect and will lose their welfare benefits in December.
The coalition’s legislative package includes bills that would:
 Restore $1.3 million that has been cut from homeless programs and appropriate an additional $1.5 million for the programs.
Appropriate $1.3 million to the state rent supplement program for low-income renters.
Provide a state earned income tax credit.
Raise the state minimum wage.
Increase the level of programs for women in prison.
Appropriate $300,000 for the University of Hawai‘i Bridge-to-Hope program, which provides a college education to those trying to make the transition from welfare to work.
Coalition co-chairwoman Annelle Amaral said such legislation is important because families who are cut from welfare may become homeless, and that the majority of those who work will likely be paid at minimum wage. That would raise the stresses on the community, and therefore cause an increase in violence and substance abuse, she said.
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