Posted on: Tuesday, November 20, 2001

Maui vouchers total $180,000

Advertiser Staff

WAILUKU, Maui — Maui County distributed more than $180,000 in financial assistance during the first week of a program to help workers affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

From Nov. 5 to 9, the Hawai'i Emergency Laulima Partnership, or HELP, gave out $183,869 in vouchers to 1,494 people representing 479 households, according to Mayor James "Kimo" Apana.

Nearly half of the assistance — $89,826 — was used for rent or mortgage payments, while $53,754 was used for food. Smaller amounts helped workers with medical costs and auto loans and insurance.

The average amount of assistance was $384 per household, the mayor said.

The County Council authorized the $1.5 million emergency relief program to help workers who lost jobs or found their hours reduced in the economic contraction after Sept. 11. Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. administers the 90-day program.