Posted on: Saturday, December 1, 2001
State offers help on rent to workers in a crunch
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Hawai'i folks who lost jobs or had their work hours cut since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks can get help paying their rent from a $1 million emergency shelter fund proposed by the state and approved by the Legislature in the most recent special session.
Gov. Ben Cayetano announced yesterday that the money is now available to those qualified and could be in their hands as quickly as three days after completed applications are processed.
Cayetano praised the program as one that "will help provide immediate stability to Hawai'i's workers and their families."
The Emergency Assistance Grant and Loan fund can provide up to $1,000 every 60 days to qualifying households for rent and utility payments. To be eligible, individuals or families may not have more than $5,000 in bank accounts, stocks or other liquid assets.
A person also may be eligible if he or she applied for unemployment insurance as a result of the economic decline that followed the terrorist attacks. Applicants, limited to one per household, must provide certification of their housing or utility needs. All assistance will be made in a check payable directly to the landlord or utility company.
The checks will be distributed through seven service agencies statewide. On O'ahu, the agencies will be Salvation Army Family Services at 845-2544 and Catholic Charities Family Services at 521-HELP (4357).
State Rep. Dennis Arakaki, D-28th (Kalihi Valley, Kamehameha Heights), said lawmakers were alarmed to hear of growing waiting lists for homeless shelters. "Our approach was (intended) to really prevent homelessness," he said.
Suzie Torcuato, of Catholic Charities, said the agency expects the program to be a welcome one as families face the holiday season during this difficult economic time. "There's definitely a big need," she said.
Torcuato said the agency usually gets about 600 requests each month for housing assistance but that shot up to 865 in October.
To apply on other islands call:
• On Kaua'i, Kaua'i Economic Opportunity, 245-4077.
• On Maui, Maui Economic Opportunity, 249-2990.
• On the Big Island, the Office of Social Ministry, 935-3050; and the East Hawai'i Coalition for the Homeless, 961-2559.
