Latest news with #CNHA
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
131 Maui fire survivors laid off after federal funding cut
A total of 131 Maui residents displaced by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires and working on recovery efforts were laid off Monday after the Trump administration cut federal funding for their positions. The workers were employed through the National Dislocated Worker Grant program and working for 27 'host ' organizations on cleanup, recovery and humanitarian efforts, according to the Maui Economic Opportunity, which managed the federal grant program on the island. MEO said in a Monday letter to all NDWG participants and their employers that they had ceased the program's operations—and the jobs it funded—after being informed by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations that the money was no longer available. 'All the folks that thought they were going to work Tuesday, they got notified Monday night that it's over. So, I mean, that's pretty harsh. A lot of these guys are survivors or helping survivors, ' Maui County Council member Tamara Paltin told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 'The federal government is expecting folks to start paying rent next month as well. So that's rough.' The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement announced Tuesday that 17 employees involved in its Kako 'o Maui recovery programs have been placed on leave due to the funding freeze, affecting the direct aid provided to wildfire survivors at the now-temporarily closed Kako 'o Distribution Center. The 17 were part of the 131 workers who lost their positions. 'Today, just like many other community organizations, Kako 'o Maui is faced with the loss of a majority of our staff due to a federal funding freeze affecting the National Dislocated Workers Grant. This loss has led to the temporary closure of the Kako 'o Distribution Center, ' Kako 'o Maui officials said in an email to CNHA. 'As we continue to work through staffing challenges, currently scheduled appointments will be canceled until further notice. We understand our commitment and kuleana to the community and are actively looking for ways to continue serving you. Mahalo for your understanding.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Paltin said the loss is significant for Maui. 'Some of the immediate impacts is the Kako 'o Resource Center—a lot of their workers were laid off from this, and they had to cancel all their appointments with survivors and not open today. I know that the Humane Society got hit, ' Paltin said, referring to the Maui Humane Society's loss of funding that. CNHA officials said they recognize the significant impact the funding cuts will have on families still recovering from the Maui wildfires and are taking immediate action to restore the affected positions and prevent future disruptions. The organization is seeking alternative funding sources to sustain its programs and reinstate the affected employees, officials said. 'These employees have been the backbone of our Maui recovery efforts, ensuring that thousands of Lahaina residents had food, shelter, and essential supplies, ' CNHA Chief Executive Officer Kuhio Lewis said in a statement. 'This funding cut was made without a clear assessment of its impact, and the loss of these jobs will disrupt services that families still rely on every day.' In response to these funding challenges, CNHA is seeking emergency funding from private foundations, including the Hawaii Community Foundation, to restore the affected jobs. Lewis also traveled Tuesday to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the restoration of NDWG funds. 'Our message to policymakers is simple : These services are still desperately needed, and cuts like these have real consequences for real families. We hope the federal government will prioritize data-driven decision-making rather than making reductions that undo months of progress, ' Lewis said. CNHA, according to Lewis, is exploring long-term funding strategies alongside immediate solutions to ensure that Maui's recovery efforts persist beyond the current crisis. The organization also hopes to secure ongoing support for families affected by the wildfires, emphasizing the need for stability even as federal funding concludes. Before the funding freeze, NDWG had assisted over 300 displaced workers and placed them at 51 recovery sites since October 2023. MEO reported that it could not cover its January reimbursement request or expenses incurred from Jan. 31 through Feb. 25. Although a county grant will help cover some program expenses, there are concerns that some work sites may now be deemed ineligible for funding. 'That left us no choice other than shutting down immediately to prevent incurring further potentially non-reimbursable expenses, ' MEO Chief Executive Officer Debbie Cabebe said in a statement. 'We do not have an abundance of discretionary funding to cover potentially millions of dollars in expenses.' MEO officials said they had hoped to continue NDWG through the end of September. Since its inception, NDWG provided temporary employment opportunities ranging from $20.50 to $27 an hour, allowing workers to support themselves while contributing to recovery efforts. While Paltin acknowledged that some workers might have transitioned into other employment opportunities, she emphasized that the program was intended as a temporary bridge to permanent employment. 'I imagine some of the jobs that the people had before the fire reopened, ' she said. 'Because, you know, immediately after the fire, things were shut down. But the transition wasn't meant to be like, 'You're fired. Don't come back tomorrow, ' you know ?' MEO is working with Employers Options and the Maui County American Job Center to assist displaced workers in finding new employment. A resource fair is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the MEO Family Center in Wailuku. NDWG participants are encouraged to contact Employers Options at 808-877-6555 for assistance with unemployment benefits. The Maui American Job Center also can provide support at 110 Alaihi St., Suite 209, Kahului, or online at. Paltin said the implications of these federal cuts for Maui's recovery efforts could lead to increased hardship and that the loss of funding would intensify challenges for families still in the recovery process. 'Just more suffering and hardship, ' she said. 'There's also a lot of uncertainty as to the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds right now. But we're just going to try and stay the course on that.' Paltin said these federal funds were expected for rebuilding projects, including government-assisted housing like the Front Street Apartments. With uncertainties surrounding the funding, the county might need to explore alternative solutions. 'It's questionable. There's going to be a lot more suffering for people, ' she said. 'And for the county, we will have to be flexible and creative—we already had many people falling through the cracks. This is just going to exacerbate things.'
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Funding freeze fallout: Hawaii nonprofits and state agencies face uncertainty
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The federal grant freeze has sent shockwaves throughout the state, with agencies bracing for the impact. Hawaii has joined 21 other states in a lawsuit to challenge the said, the federal funding freeze has stunned nonprofit organizations and community advocates. Trump's deportation plan takes shape 'I don't know if it's surprising, but it's certainly a gut wrenching shock to all of us because I don't think any of us were fully prepared,' said Kuhio Lewis, CEO for the Council on Native Hawaiian Advancement. The sudden halt has left local leaders scrambling to assess the fallout. CNHA receives about $7 million in federal funding, which could jeopardize programs including child care, social services, education and subsidized housing. 'This means people are going to lose their jobs potentially, there's a lot of uncertainty, there's a lot of anxiety and people are just in a state of 'what to do next?'' Lewis said. The Legacy Foundation, which receives indirect federal funding, is worried for the ripple effect of what the freeze may cause on their sponsorships and partnerships. 'I think ultimately it undermines our ability to serve our community, and it does create a climate of uncertainty for the vital work that we do,' said Zabrina Zablan-Duvauchelle, Legacy Foundation Board vice chair. The freeze could have significant impact on the Department of Hawaiian Homelands that receives $22 million a year under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act and nearly $90 million in its broadband connectivity program. While the freeze does not affect direct assistance programs like Medicaid, SNAP and Social Security, state agencies such as arts, education, disaster recovery and workforce development, face uncertainty. The Medicaid portal was down nationwide for a time this morning, but is back online. However, the threat of a freeze is causing fear and confusion, something Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz condemned on the Senate floor Tuesday. 'What is happening today is unconstitutional. It's also against statutory law, but most importantly, it is causing pain across the country,' Schatz said. Gov. Josh Green said his administration is working to ensure critical services continue and the state is seeking clarity from federal agencies on the freeze's scope. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
