The September 11th attack
Social service caseloads growing
| • | List of some agencies in need |
By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i's social service agencies are drowning in requests for help at a time when donations are falling, the job market has dried up and the holidays are bearing down.
The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has brought back retired workers and is paying more overtime to deal with the increase in applications for unemployment benefits. Some of the smaller organizations, such as the Angel Network Charities, are even cutting their own staff and employee hours just as they're needed most following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that have led to layoffs and furloughs throughout the Islands.
"We were doing so well up until Sept. 11, then this happened," said Helga Wilhelm, executive director and CEO of Angel Network Charities.
Wilhelm paused, let out a deep sigh and then said, "It's just very disconcerting."
Even the bigger social service organizations are struggling to meet greater demands with fewer dollars, said Tom Jackson, spokesman for the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
"Basically," he said, "they're all hurting."
It's only going to get worse as federal guidelines require more families to get off of federal assistance in November and after the first of the year, said Maj. Ralph Hood, the Salvation Army's divisional commander for the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands.
"We're saying to our donors that this year, Thanksgiving and Christmas will have to be a special time for giving because the caseload will be so much heavier," Hood said.
Calls for help to the Salvation Army are up 100 to 120 percent in the last few weeks from people needing help with rent or utilities or food, Hood said. The common factor, he said, is that most of the callers have never had to rely on groups such as the Salvation Army.
"They've never been in the system before," Hood said. "Some just want a sense of direction of where to go for help."
On the Neighbor Islands, in particular, the callers are being assisted by unpaid volunteers, Hood said. Some of the Honolulu centers are having to dip into overtime accounts to cover the demand on O'ahu, he said.
Last week, Gov. Ben Cayetano announced the formation of a task force of nonprofit and faith-based groups to better coordinate their efforts.
"The current situation is presenting new challenges, but there are tremendous assets and resources in the community," said Susan Doyle, co-chair of the group and Aloha United Way vice president for community building. "We may need to put them together in different ways to meet our current needs."
A group of Hawai'i legislators wants to hear from state and nonprofit social service agencies this afternoon to see if the upcoming special legislative session can do more to help them help people in need.
A package of bills being prepared for the session focuses "on economic stimulation and revitalization," said Rep. Dennis Arakaki, (D-Kalihi Valley, Kamehameha Heights). "There is very little for the people at the bottom, the people who are at real risk to end up homeless in addition to being jobless."
But Arakaki offered little hope that social service agencies will see more state money.
"Everyone has to realize," he said, "that with this economy, money is not going to be readily available."
The following is a partial list of agencies and phone numbers to help those in need:
Food
Angel Network Charities: 377-1841
Hawaii Food Bank: 836-3600
Salvation Army: 845-2544
River of Life Mission: 524-7656
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Health Insurance
Executive Office on Aging: 586-7299
Kids Health Insurance Hotline at Ask Aloha United Way: 275-2000
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Health Services
Aloha Medical Mission Clinic: 593-9696
Kalihi Palama Health Center: 848-1438
Ke Ola Mamo: 533-0035
Queen's Medical Center Adult Medicine Clinic: 547-4970
Wai'anae Coast Community Health Center: 696-7081
Waikiki Health Center: 922-4787
Waimanalo Health Center: 259-7948
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Unemployment Benefits
Hawai'i State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations: 586-8842
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Clothing
Catholic Charities — Intake, Information & Referral: 521-4357
Helping Hands Community Clearinghouse: 845-1669
River of Life Mission: 524-7656
Salvation Army: 845-2544
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Retaining jobs
Alu Like: 536-4949
Catholic Charities Community & Immigrant Services: 528-5233
Hawai'i Job Corps: 259-6001
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Family Counseling
Child & Family Services: 521-2377
Parents & Children Together: 832-0855
Queen Lili'oukalani Children's Center: 847-7991
Susannah Wesley Community Center: 847-1535
Wai'anae Coast Community Health Center: 696-7081
Catholic Charities Family Services: 536-1794
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Domestic Abuse
Catholic Charities Family Services: 521-4357
Parents & Children Together: 832-0855
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Sexual Assault
Catholic Charities Family Services: 521-4357
Child & Family Services: 521-2377
Sex Abuse Treatment Center: 524-7273
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Child Abuse
Catholic Charities Family Services: 536-1794
Child & Family Services: 521-4357
Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children: 535-7660
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Drug Abuse
Drug Addiction Services of Hawai'i: 538-0704
Hina Mauka: 236-2600
Kahi Mohala: 671-8511
Salvation Army Addiction Treatment Services: 595-6371
Wai'anae Coast Community Mental Health Center: 696-7081
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Rental Assistance
Angel Network Charities: 377-1841
Catholic Charities Elderly Services: 595-0077
Salvation Army: 845-2544
United Self Help: 926-0466
Wai'anae Coast Community Health Center: 696-7081
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Utilities Assistance
Catholic Charities — Intake, Information & Referral: 521-4357
Parents & Children Together: 832-0855
Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.
