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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, October 16, 2001

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

• • •

Health Insurance

Executive Office on Aging: 586-7299

Kids Health Insurance Hotline at Ask Aloha United Way: 275-2000

• • •

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

• • •

Unemployment Benefits

Hawai'i State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations: 586-8842

• • •

Clothing

Catholic Charities — Intake, Information & Referral: 521-4357

Helping Hands Community Clearinghouse: 845-1669

River of Life Mission: 524-7656

Salvation Army: 845-2544

• • •

Retaining jobs

Alu Like: 536-4949

Catholic Charities Community & Immigrant Services: 528-5233

Hawai'i Job Corps: 259-6001

• • •

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

• • •

Domestic Abuse

Catholic Charities Family Services: 521-4357

Parents & Children Together: 832-0855

• • •

Sexual Assault

Catholic Charities Family Services: 521-4357

Child & Family Services: 521-2377

Sex Abuse Treatment Center: 524-7273

• • •

Child Abuse

Catholic Charities Family Services: 536-1794

Child & Family Services: 521-4357

Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children: 535-7660

• • •

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

• • •

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

• • •

Utilities Assistance

Catholic Charities — Intake, Information & Referral: 521-4357

Parents & Children Together: 832-0855

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.