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Hawai'i County Economic Opportunity Council has been working to reduce, mitigate and alleviate poverty on Hawai'i island since 1965.
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MAHALO NUI
HCEOC extends a sincere MAHALO to our community partners and funders that have worked with us to meet the increasing needs in our communities during this crisis.
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Prior to the statewide stay-at-home proclamation, HCEOC began to plan alternative service delivery methods in order to meet the changing needs of our community. As other organizations carve out their new space and service delivery methods, HCEOC has combined agility, flexibility, and commitment to serve from our core areas of strength.
Below are some services currently being provided.
For more information call 808-961-2681
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SENIOR MEAL DELIVERY
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At the closing of County of Hawaii Senior Nutrition Congregate Meal sites, HCEOC delivers 745 frozen meals (5 meals per senior) to roughly 135 seniors currently participating in the program who reside on the Hamakua Coast. HCEOC’s food service program prepares five frozen meals per participant and then our Transportation drivers utilize our vans to deliver to each participant’s house. HCEOC will also be using this delivery service to extend our grocery delivery service and fresh produce delivery.
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KEIKI MEAL PICK UP
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ALL school-aged students (PreK – 18 years) can pick up breakfast and lunch Monday – Friday at the St. Joseph Cafeteria. Since March we have seen an 82% increase in meals picked up.
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RENTAL & UTILITIES
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TO APPLY CALL 808-935-5219
In partnership with the Hawai'i Island United Way, HCEOC will be providing intake services for the COVID-19 19 Rent & Utility Assistance program (CRUA). The purpose of this is to provide rent and utility payments for people whose income has been impacted by the pandemic. The assistance will be provided by direct payment made by the four United Ways in the Islands to landlords and/or utility companies.
1. Assistance will be provided to two categories of program clients:
a. Households unable to make rent payments; and,
b. Households unable to make utility payments including electric, gas, water, and/or a single cell phone account per household.
Application Requirements
CRUA applicants must reside within the County of the Partner Agency submitting the application.
- Each household may apply up to one time per month.
- Applicants must have a current lease agreement. Lease agreements may not include inter-family agreements (landlords and tenants may not be related).
- Pre-COVID household income (prior to March 15, 2020) is at or below 80% of the
- Area Median Income (AMI). See the attached chart for 80% AMI by family size.
- (Verification will be determined by 2019 Income Tax Return, 2019 W-2s, recent
- pay stubs and/or another method (s) determined by the Provider Agency).
- Documentation showing a layoff, furlough or significant reduction in hours directly
- related to effects from the COVID-19 crisis.
- Evidence that the applicant has applied for unemployment or partial
- unemployment benefits.
- Applicant reports less than $1,000 in liquid assets (cash, checking & savings
- accounts, stocks, mutual funds, money market funds, bonds)
- Rent and Utility payments will be for the actual rent, partial rent accepted by the Landlord or Service Provider in lieu of full payment, or $1000, whichever is least.
HOPE Services and Neighborhood Place of Puna
is also providing similar support.
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COMING SOON
On a normal week, HCEOC provides transportation services for low-income seniors to grocery stores for them to purchase their groceries. However now with the need to protect our seniors, we have worked with KTA to provide delivery of their groceries to low-income seniors currently enrolled in our transportation program. We will begin by providing this service to Hilo, Kea’au and Pahoa communities. Eventually, we would like to expand this service of delivery of non-perishables to districts other than Hilo, Kea’au, and Pahoa. KTA will provide a purchase list based on weekly sales to seniors. Seniors will be able to order their groceries and KTA will pack the groceries. HCEOC will deliver those groceries to the door of seniors. With a handheld payment device, seniors will be able to use their debit or EBT card to pay for their purchases. HCEOC and its current funders will pay for delivery costs.
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