Hawaiʻi True Cost Coalition

Hawaii News Now Spotlight Now interviewed TCC member, Connie Mitchell, Executive Director of Institute for Human Services (IHS). Over the years, the costs have gone up and the contracts just haven’t kept up. And so it’s really tough. You have to raise more money to fill the puka and then you’re spending more time trying Read more

By Christy MacPherson, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice …Diminished support will mean that there will be less case management for those trying to find housing they can afford. Outreach workers won’t be able to go out into our neighborhoods and assist our houseless neighbors. There will be fewer domestic violence advocates to Read more

Tina Andrade, President and CEO of Catholic Charities Hawaii speaks about the True Cost Coalition at the 2025 Working Families Day Rally, hosted by the Hawaii Children’s Action Network at the Hawaii State Capitol. Read more

In Hawaii, the network of community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs) plays a critical role in providing essential services to local families. From housing support for foster youth to food programs for low-income households and services for victims of domestic violence, these organizations are lifelines for many. However, these nonprofits are increasingly struggling due to a growing Read more

From Andrea Pettiford, Easterseals Hawaii Tina Andrade and Rona Fukumoto’s recent column highlighting Catholic Charities Chicago’s transition away from government contracts should galvanize us to action –transitions like these have significant and sometimes unforeseen ripple effects that are felt far and wide in the communities where they occur. Read full Letter Read more

At the heart of the issue is this: government contract rates are often set at or below the actual cost of providing services. That makes delivering critical outcomes unsustainable. Read more