HCAP WEEKLY March 10, 2025

HCAP’s Free, Accessible Tax Assistance Program Offered Across O’ahu

In February, HCAP’s District Service Centers began preparing taxes for low-income individuals and families in partnership with Hawaii Tax Help & Financial Empowerment Solutions. The Hawaiʻi Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program has been a valuable program to HCAP’s communities, especially for kupuna. Tax appointments are being scheduled at the Central District Service Center, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. This year, HCAP’s Central District office is implementing drop-off services once more to prepare and perform quality reviews.

Many low-income households believe that they do not qualify or can’t afford to file taxes due to receiving social security, small pensions or government assistance as a means of income. HCAP’s Tax Assistance is free and made accessible to those within these income limits.

In recent years, HCAP implemented programs that support kupuna in the community, which allowed the Central District office to form valuable relationships with the staff and kupuna at these program sites. Offering tax services to kupuna was just another way to support and keep the community’s kupuna safe. This year, HCAP extended its tax outreach efforts to six kupuna apartment centers, some of which also service low-income families with children. The tax credits received through filing for their returns are especially valuable to these families. HCAP’s new partners reached out to HCAP offices requesting to extend its tax services to their residences.

Although the state tax credits remained at $220.00 per low-income individual, this credit is meaningful for kupuna and families with children who live on a fixed income. The credits help to offset the high cost of utilities, food, and housing. Numerous outreach days were scheduled to accommodate kupuna and families at these new sites, where staff also had the opportunity to share the various other services HCAP offers the community. The kupuna and families that staff met at outreaches were notably happy to learn that through HCAP’s free tax program they qualified for the state tax credits and they could receive this assistance close to home.

Central District’s Board Member, Belinda Fagin, the Resident Coordinator at Villages of Moa’e Ku I, II, III located in Ewa, was happy to invite Central District staff to offer HCAP’s free tax services to the residents and share the additional HCAP services they may benefit from. Villages of Moa’e Ku is a development under the EAH Housing (Ecumenical Association for Housing) program, a non-profit corporation. HCAP has been extremely grateful for its partnership with its Board Member, Belinda Fagan, who has been proactive in connecting communities to HCAP programs and services, which target their essential needs. This has allowed HCAP to extend its reach in helping more individuals and families on the island.

Click Here to learn more about HCAP’s VITA Program.

Kalihi Client Receives Vocational Assistance for Dental Assistant Program

Jasmine moved to Hawai’i from the Philippines, and she was determined to utilize every opportunity available to help her family. She especially wanted to learn a trade that she can be proud of while contributing to the community. Her initial plan on why she moved to Hawai’i was to seek higher education and provide assistance to help her family financially.

Very quickly, she found part-time work, providing financial assistance to her family. She then learned about the Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services program through vocational training information, to which she contacted the Kalihi-Palama District Service Center seeking additional information to apply for Nā Lima Hana. She was very interested in the dental training program and Kalihi-Palama District Service Center staff helped her register. She applied for classes at the Hawaii Dental Assistant Academy, seeking to get certified in the Dental Assistant program.

She is currently taking classes in the vocational program and is scheduled to complete her training in April. She is confident she will be able to land a job with a dental clinic upon receipt of her certificate from the dental program. The Kalihi-Palama District office will continue to support Jasmine through her journey and wish her nothing but the best.

Click here to learn more about Nā Lima Hana.

Head Start Partners With The Food to Grow Program

HCAP Head Start Family Advocates participated in an informative training session with Deanna Au-Wong from University of Hawaii Food to Grow. The Food to Grow program offers free vegetable seedling kits and resources to low-income populations to increase their access to healthy foods and improve vegetable intake by encouraging recipients to start their own produce gardens at home. Seedling kits include a vegetable seedling in a paper pot, extra seeds, and a pamphlet which provides information on SNAP benefits, detailed growing directions, and a tasty local recipe!

Click here to learn more about HCAP’s Head Start and Early Head Start.