Hawaiʻi True Cost Coalition

Many nonprofits today are at a crossroads due to insufficient funding for government contracts at a time when demand for these vital programs and services is only growing. Government contract rates are often below the true cost of providing these services. Read more

Hale Kipa President and CEO Venus Rosete-Medeiros talks story with Amanda Pump, President and CEO Child & Family Service, Shawn Kana`iaupuni, Partners In Development Foundation, and Gwen Okamoto, Chief Financial Officer, Hale Kipa about the need for government contracts to cover the true costs of providing services. Read more

Hawaii’s community-based organizations are sounding the alarm on a quiet crisis threatening the very foundations of our social safety net. Over 50 local nonprofits have united as the Hawaii True Cost Coalition to address the severe and chronic underfunding they face from government contracts. Read more

Recent articles in local publications have spotlighted the existential challenges many organizations face due to gaps in government contract funding. As a member of the Hawaii True Cost Coalition, I know this challenge isn’t unique to Easterseals Hawaii (ESH); it is an issue confronting human service, community-based organizations statewide. Read more

“Despite the community’s growing needs, state contracts have been level for almost 10 years. The state isn’t funding our contracts at their true costs. In fact, at the height of the pandemic, when job loss and isolation were devastating Hawaii’s communities, the state reduced our contract amounts by 10%.” Read more

How have the Maui wildfires altered the plans and goals of nonprofits such as yours? Our strategic goals remain the same–to continue providing services and advocacy for the most vulnerable in the community. Read more