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Hearing: Bill 146: in support
Date: March 10,2020
Location: Hawaiti County Council Chambers
Aloha Honorable Finance Committee Chair David,Vice Chair Richards,and members:
I am submitting testimony on behalf of HOPE Services Hawaii, a non-profit organization working to end
homelessness in our community. We strongly support Bill 146,which would amend Chapter 2, of the Hawaii County
Code,by adding a new article relating to the appropriation of disaster relief funds to eligible nonprofit organizations to
provide relief, recovery, mitigation, and remediation assistance for disaster damage caused by the 2018 Kilauea
Eruption.
Our organization, like many others, stepped up during the 2018 eruption. One of the most tangible ways we made an
impact was through our partnership with businesses, other nonprofits, individuals, and our government, to build a 20
micro-unit shelter in just 30 days for displaced kupuna. It was truly a remarkable testament to the spirit of community,
and to the potential of public-private partnerships.However,when we opened this Pahoa shelter,we did so without any
government compensation, and struggled to keep our doors open with no secured funding. This left us to fundraise and
make asks of our disaster-fatigued community,while carrying a deficit in order to operate this shelter.
Unfortunately, recovery is far from over. We've remained involved with the recovery process through HI-DARRT
(Hawai'i Island Disaster Assistance Response and Recovery Team), a coalition borne out of the eruption as a way to
coordinate efforts and resources, and which I co-chair with Sharon Hirota. You may be familiar with HI-DARRT's
universal intake form, which allows disaster survivors to apply for aid from dozens of agencies by filling out a single
form. These forms are managed by Neighborhood Place of Puna(NPP),on behalf of HI-DARRT.
NPP, who keeps track of the requests people have made and continue to make, has made it clear that many of our
neighbors are still in need. As of February 28, 69 households were requesting help with reconstruction, 56 with
relocation, and 44 with rental assistance. Additionally, NPP frequently fields questions about catchment repairs, roof
repairs and road access.
Disaster survivors have waited long enough for their lives to return to normal. Nonprofits can help ease this burden on
those neighbors by fulfilling some of these requests, but we cannot afford to do it on our own. By passing Bill 146,
Hawaii County can delegate some of the recovery work to qualified nonprofits, who can likely complete it faster and
at a lower cost than the government would be able to. Therefore, I ask you to allow the nonprofit community to work
together with the government to help our Puna`ohana recover and thrive.
Mahalo nui for your consideration. rr
Comm. No.
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Sincerely, Ref.To:
Bran dee Menino,Chief Executive Officer Ref. bate MAR 2 5 2020
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