HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0067.025 2024-2026From: Sarah Figueroa _
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2025 11:58 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony in support of Resolution 46-25
My name is Sarah Figueroa and 1 work for HOPE Services Hawaii, Inc. I am writing in my personal capacity
in strong support of Resolution 46-25, which would approve the award of Round 3 funding to nonprofits
addressing housing and homelessness on Hawai'i Island. This resolution is important because it allows
organizations who are moving the needle on homelessness in our community to keep doing that work.
Addressing homelessness is important to me because I believe that homelessness is a symptom of a
much larger economic crisis affecting us alt. Subsequently, 1 believe that it takes many hearts and minds
to respond to such a complex, structural issue. There is a collaborative, coordinated effort among
homeless service providers as a direct result of this funding; it is an indispensable good to have so many
skilled and knowledgeable providers on our island who are committed, steadfastly, to ending
homelessness locally. The projects designed and implemented with support from these funds represent
dedication that 1 hope our County leaders can be proud of.
This funding is not a financial panacea to homelessness on our island. But, it is critical for core homeless
service programs and smaller (but mighty) efforts carried out to support our community experiencing
homelessness. With the recent threat of volatility of federal funding, it's more important than ever that
our most vulnerable community members can rely on local leaders and local investment.
The reality that so many within our community are impacted by homelessness and housing insecurity -
compounded by myriad mental health issues, chronic health diseases, and profound trauma - deserves
the investment realized by the Homelessness and Housing Fund. It has signified our County's
commitment to ending homelessness through advancing the hard work carried out by each of the
recipients of these funds across the past two funding cycles, and those now selected for a third.
Delayed funding could mean a lapse in established services and an impediment to new services
beginning, which could result in unnecessary suffering among the families and individuals who depend
on nonprofits selected as Round 3 grantees.
Please pass Resolution 46-25 to ensure the continuity of effective homelessness and housing programs
today.
Thank you for considering my testimony.
Sincerely,
Sarah Figueroa, MPH
U111AR
1-1)