HomeMy WebLinkAboutAmaral, Destiny
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:Destiny Amaral <destiny@neighborhoodplace.org>
Sent:Monday, September 14, 2026 12:51 PM
To:Council Testimony
Subject:Support of Hawaiʻi County Bill 192
Aloha Chair and Members of the Finance Committee,
My name is Destiny Amaral, and I am a 20 year old Youth and Family Outreach worker with Neighborhood
Place of Puna (NPP) who started working with NPP at freshly 18 years old. I am writing in strong support
of Hawai ʻ i County Bill 192 to extend the Homelessness and Housing Fund (HHF) through 2029.
Every day in my role, I meet individuals and families who are doing their best to survive incredibly difficult
circumstances. I see the stress, the fear, and the uncertainty that comes with not knowing where you will
sleep, how you will provide for your family, or how you will get through the next day. I also see the
resilience, strength, and hope people carry, even in the hardest moments.
The resources funded through HHF make it possible for us to show up for people in meaningful ways.
They allow us to build trust, provide support, and walk alongside individuals and families as they work
toward stability. This is not just about services it is about human connection, dignity, and giving people a
real chance to move forward.
What I believe in most deeply is prevention. I have seen firsthand how powerful it is to reach someone
before they lose everything. When we can step in early when someone is on the edge of losing housing
we can help stabilize their situation and prevent the trauma of becoming unsheltered. Once someone
falls into crisis, the path back becomes so much harder. Prevention is not only more compassionate it is
more effective.
This funding allows us to act before a crisis happens, instead of reacting after. It allows us to support
families in staying together, to keep people housed, and to reduce the long-term impacts of
homelessness in our community.
Without continued support for HHF, these critical services are at risk. That would mean fewer
opportunities to intervene early, fewer people reached, and more individuals and families falling into
crisis when it could have been prevented.
I urge you to support Bill 192. This funding is not abstract, it directly impacts real people in our
community every single day. It gives us the ability to do this work with care, compassion, and
effectiveness.
Mahalo for your time, your leadership, and for considering the voices of those of us working on the front
lines.
Mahalo,
Destiny Amaral
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Destiny Amaral
Youth and Family Outreach Specialist
Neighborhood Place of Puna
Direct Office: (808) 767-3221 | Main Office: (808) 501-1413
16-105 Opukaha'ia St., Keaau, HI 96749
destiny@neighborhoodplace.org | neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org
To Nurture, Strengthen, and Celebrate 'Ohana
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