HCAP WEEKLY March 6, 2023

Central District Service Center Helps Kūpuna File Taxes  

This tax season the staff at Central District Service Center reached out to two senior housing residences. Prior to meeting the kūpuna in their area, the team worked with the housing managers to post flyers in common use areas in the housing. In collaboration with the housing managers, residents were informed about the process and the documents HCAP staff would collect to help file their taxes. Prior to meeting, some kūpuna were given tax forms to complete which helped in shortening the process time.

Upon completion of filing their taxes a Central District Staff contacted each taxpayer and let them know to come to the same location to sign tax forms, collect their original forms, and receive a copy of their 2022 taxes. Many kūpuna’s sole source of income is their Social Security retirement or Social Security Supplement (SSI) thus they have no tax liability, but still have to file their taxes in order to receive their food credit. For kūpuna who received pension plus a Social Security Retirement, they are liable to file taxes, but some shared that finding an affordable tax preparer is a burden.

One kūpuna shared that she has not filed taxes in over ten years because the fee superseded her refund. Another added that her neighbor paid $300 to get her taxes done. The Central District staff was able to complete over 40 individual tax services for the kūpuna. Beside the kūpuna from the Housing, Central District continues to provide free tax services to low-to-moderate income families who would otherwise pay anywhere from $150 to over $300 to get their taxes done. The staff also helped Furlough participants complete their individual taxes.

Click Here to learn more about HCAPs Income Tax Services

Windward District Service Center Partners with Family Promise of Hawai’i

Partnerships within the community are essential to bridging the gap in assisting our vulnerable population with self-sustainability. HCAP’s Windward District Service Center staff was able to visit Family Promise of Hawai’i and meet with Morgan Barrett, Director of Family Services to introduce new staff and update referral information and eligibility criteria.

Family Promise of Hawaiʻi mobilizes homelessness holistically, providing prevention services before families reach crisis, shelter and case management when they become homeless, and stabilization programs once they have secured housing to ensure they remain independent. Family Promise of Hawai’i also offers their clients a drop in center where families can come and wash/dry their clothes, pick up food from the pantry and participate in financial literacy.

“We all know of the huge homeless issue here in Hawai’i. Here at The Windward District Service Center, we have families and individuals who call us daily seeking assistance to help get them off the streets.” Windward District Service Center Manager Sonny Preston shares. The Windward District Center’s staff has put its best efforts forward in seeking partnering agencies whose focus is on housing and homelessness.

Click Here to learn more about HCAPs Programs & Services

The Study of Water Drops 

This week the keiki at Kunia I Head Start completed a study on water. They conducted an experiment to determine whether water drops clung to one another. Each keiki used an eyedropper, a piece of wax paper, and a container of red colored water. The experiment facilitated the development of their fine motor, logic, reasoning, and color recognition skills.  They placed water drops on the wax paper and quickly noticed they clung to one another. The experiment was welcomed with “ohs” and “ahs” as they continued to investigate the behavior of the water drops.  When asked at the end of the experiment if water drops clung to each other, the keiki unanimously responded with, “YES!”

Click Here to learn more about Early Head Start & Head Start Programs.