Hawaiʻi True Cost Coalition

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

“The ultimate mission of The True Cost Coalition is to guarantee that we effectively address the community’s needs. An underfunded response will have lasting impacts.” Read more

“AZ’s closure is a call to action, and I hope our government leaders answer it — before the cost of inaction becomes a price too high for Hawaii and our people to recover from.” Read more

“CBOs save lives, yet if the funding does not increase, staff positions will not be filled, programs may end, but worse, lives may be lost.” Read more