OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“May Jesus, our Passover, grant strength and hope to all who work diligently to guarantee the essential services necessary to ease people’s difficulties and sufferings.” (Pope Francis, Easter 2020)
The devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the whole world. Yet amid the tragedies, we hear through various versions of talk story of silent heroes “working diligently … to ease people’s difficulties and sufferings.” While many adjust to a new reality of staying and working at home, it is important to remember that hundreds of people in Hawaii don’t have the option of sheltering in place. Also, many essential workers are called to the front lines every day –– endangering their lives while putting the needs of others before their own.
The Big Island’s HOPE Services Hawaii (HOPE), an affiliate of the Diocese of Honolulu, is just one of many organizations serving the least among us. HOPE plays a heroic role accompanying some of the island’s most vulnerable populations. Year-round, it operates multiple temporary shelters and outreach programs for houseless persons. During the COVID-19 crisis, it has increased social distancing and sanitation efforts at its shelters to reduce community spread of the virus, providing isolation units for people exhibiting symptoms of sickness.
HOPE also provides support staff and volunteer meal coordination at the County of Hawaii COVID-19 Task Force and Premier Medical Group testing sites with physicians from throughout Hawaii Island. HOPE is increasing its outreach to at-risk persons living at encampments or uninhabitable locations on the Big Island, providing prescription delivery, wound care and ensuring continuity of health care treatment.
HOPE Services has partnered with the Hawaii Community Foundation and Aloha Hawaii United Way to form the Resilience Fund, which provides financial aid to Big Island families who have experienced a loss of income due to the coronavirus, with a one-time $1,000 maximum emergency grant to offset rent, utilities, transportation and childcare costs. HOPE also offers emergency aid to more than 200 households with the highest-need clients to ensure that they have essentials such as food, toilet paper, cleaning supplies and medications.
Since many have little to no access to communication devices, HOPE also offers prepaid calling cards and “trac” phones to maintain connections with case managers.
HOPE Services is also advocating with Hawaii officials for public access for the unsheltered to hygiene facilities and comfort stations at county parks. It is working with county contractors to install portable toilets and hand washing stations at encampments around the island. HOPE recently helped Hawaii County fire recruits build 60 temporary shelters at Hale Hanakahia with pre-fab micro-units similar to those HOPE put up in Pahoa after the last lava flow.
HOPE will be working with other local groups to deliver shelter monitoring services 24/7, “grab & go” meals, laundry services, links to mental and behavioral health care, and case management to connect participants to permanent housing.
During this crisis, HOPE Services Hawaii is collaborating with CARE Hawaii Inc. to provide substance abuse assessments and individual and group treatment sessions at HOPE’s Hilo Keolahou Emergency Shelter. HOPE is also partnering with Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island to deliver 180 prepared meals, five days a week, to residents at Hilo, Pahoa, and Kailua-Kona shelters.
HOPE is coordinating with the Neighborhood Place of Puna (NPP) to provide a temporary “shelter in place” program for kupuna age 60 and over, and for medically fragile individuals from the streets. HOPE and NPP will be coordinating meals through the Boys and Girls Club and laundry assistance with Arc of Hilo and other nonprofit partners.
Thanks be to God there are many working “diligently … to ease people’s difficulties and sufferings,” witnessing to Jesus. We are deeply grateful for all those who are providing essential services during these trying times. To continue this inspiring work, HOPE is in urgent need of personal protective equipment (PPEs), including face masks, gloves, gowns, overalls and cleaning supplies. To offer help in time, talent or treasure, please visit: www.hopeserviceshawaii.org.
Big Island residents can apply for financial assistance from the Resilience Fund by contacting HOPE Services at 935-3050, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., or online at hopeserviceshawaii.org/resilience-fund.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
