Financial Stability and Independence
Aloha United Way believes that achieving improved lives for our community will occur when more in the community are self-sufficient – in other words, when most are able to provide life’s basic needs without subsidy from government or others.
Aloha United Way believes that helping those that are not currently self-sufficient will require a two-pronged effort:
Aloha United Way believes that helping those that are not currently self-sufficient will require a two-pronged effort:
- Income Supports: income support programs include those we commonly refer to as welfare and include Food Stamps, TANF, Quest and others that augment the income of our most needy by providing for some/all of their basic human needs. Aloha United Way believes these programs need to be delivered in a way that motivates recipients to move toward self-sufficiency.
- Asset Building: asset building programs assist those that are progressing toward self-sufficiency by providing a comprehensive set of supports that help people maximize their earnings and save some of those earnings to build the assets necessary to become self-sufficient.
The Issue
- 32% of Hawaii’s people are living at or below 200% of federal poverty level.
- As the cost of living continues to rise, Hawaii’s working families are increasingly unable to afford basic necessities.
- To assess our overall performance in achieving self-sufficiency for all in our community, AUW tracks the following indicators (2005 Quality of Life in Hawaii Report):
- 44% of children receiving free or reduced-cost lunch
- 961 homeless people per 100,000 population
- 3% of children and 8% of adults are medically uninsured
Why Financial Stability?
Aloha United Way believes offering financial resources, job training and education is the key to helping working people avoid homelessness and permanently improve their economic stability.
What We Are Doing
- Aloha United Way is helping to address this Issue with two strategies:
- Family Self Sufficiency Program: this program is focused on increasing the number of residents that claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Additional asset building services are provided as appropriate for the recipients of EITC.
- Ho`owaiwai: Aloha United Way is a member of the asset building coalition that has created the Ho`owaiwai Asset Building Policy for Hawaii. Aloha United Way is currently advocating for a state EITC, funding for Individual Development Accounts, restrictions on payday lenders and the establishment of a self-sufficiency standard for Hawaii.
Results Matter
Last year your donations helped:
- 27, 744 individuals with job training and career development.
Read My Story
Lehua in Kailua
Up until a few years ago, our family of five was living in public housing and scraping by on $800 a month. I couldn’t imagine how to get out of debt or move my kids to a better neighborhood. Without hope of a brighter day, it’s easy to give up.
An AUW partner agency taught me about the EITC and how to invest my tax return for the future. Eventually I paid off my debt, improved my credit, and after a few years, had saved enough to buy my first home. Today, I counsel other families on financial programs like the EITC to improve their self-sufficiency. I’ll never forget how having the resources, and a little bit of hope, changed my life.
Up until a few years ago, our family of five was living in public housing and scraping by on $800 a month. I couldn’t imagine how to get out of debt or move my kids to a better neighborhood. Without hope of a brighter day, it’s easy to give up.
An AUW partner agency taught me about the EITC and how to invest my tax return for the future. Eventually I paid off my debt, improved my credit, and after a few years, had saved enough to buy my first home. Today, I counsel other families on financial programs like the EITC to improve their self-sufficiency. I’ll never forget how having the resources, and a little bit of hope, changed my life.