HCAP WEEKLY MAY 25, 2020

HCAP Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to Help Oahu Households with their Energy Bills
HCAP Client Achieves Self-Sufficiency Despite Challenges Due to COVID-19
Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program Provides Remote Lessons and STEM Kits to Students
Kalihi-Palama District Service Center Assists Family in Obtaining Employment
HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start Families Spend Quality Time Together with Home Activities

HCAP Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to Help Oahu Households with their Energy Bills

Honolulu Community Action Program, Inc. (HCAP) will be accepting applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) starting June 1, 2020, on Oahu.

LIHEAP is a federally-funded program to assist low-income households in meeting their home energy needs. Offered once a year, LIHEAP provides income-eligible households with assistance in paying their electric or gas bills. In 2019, HCAP helped 5,042 Oahu families apply for energy assistance through LIHEAP.

Oahu residents who qualify can apply for one of two programs available through LIHEAP in 2020. The first is “Gas or Electric Bill Payment Assistance,” whereby an energy credit is applied to the gas or electric accounts of households having difficulty paying these bills. The second is “Energy Crisis Intervention,” whereby households whose electricity has been shut off or is scheduled to be shut off within seven days are provided financial assistance.

Individuals and families whose household’s income has been reduced due to COVID-19 may be eligible for Disaster Energy Crisis Intervention benefits with different income limits than are typically required. Those individuals and families may provide details of the reduced income caused by COVID-19 pandemic in the Information section of the application and provide supporting documents such as a letter from their employer, unemployment award letter, etc.

In adherence to State of Hawaii and City & County of Honolulu social distancing and COVID-19 mitigation guidelines, HCAP’s district service centers are currently closed to the public until further notice. Therefore, all applications must be submitted via postmarked mail, email, or fax by June 30, 2020.

Applicants can access and fill out the application through the HCAP website.

Applicants must also include the following required documents with their application:

1. CURRENT ORIGINAL HECO ELECTRIC BILL OR HAWAII GAS BILL If utility subscriber is different from
applicant and does not live in a household, they must sign a form and provide an ID.

2. PROOF OF RESIDENCE Provide a document other than utility bill that shows current address for applicant.2. PROOF OF RESIDENCE Provide a document other than utility bill that shows current address for applicant.(Examples: phone bill, cable bill, etc.) Welfare recipients part of the household must show documented proof of current address

3. PHOTO IDENTIFICATION Provide a copy of a photo ID for all household members 18 years & older.

4. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS Provide legal documents to verify Social Security Numbers of all household members older than 1 year of age.

5. PROOF OF INCOME Provide proof of income for all household members. Bring all that apply: Last pay stubs for all jobs since January 2020; Self Employed Log/Receipts showing income/expenses for 2020; 2020 Award letters for Social Security, Welfare, Unemployment, SSI; Pension/ Retirement statement, etc.
* Regardless of income, if there is at least one person in the household that receives SNAP (Food Stamps), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or SSI benefits and all program requirements are met, household may be eligible for an income exemption

6. PROOF OF NON-CITIZEN STATUS If you are a non-citizen and you were born outside the US, please provide a copy of Permanent Resident Alien Card (“Green Card”).

Applicants should email their completed application and supporting documents to liheap@hcapweb.org, fax to 808-488-7862, or mail to:

Central District Service Center
99-102 Kalaloa Street
Aiea, Hawaii 96701

HCAP Client Achieves Self-Sufficiency Despite Challenges Due to COVID-19

Lauri is a client at HCAP’s Windward District Service Center. She was struggling to integrate back into society and needed HCAP services. Windward District Service Center’s Community Workers quickly assessed her needs, skills, strengths, and abilities to determine how to help Lauri achieve self-sufficiency.

Lauri was enrolled in HCAP’s Na Lima Hana Employment Core Service Program. Through the program, she successfully completed Job Readiness Training. Community Workers then helped Lauri create a new resume, prepare for her driver’s permit test, and conduct online employment searches.

However, just when Lauri submitted several job applications and set up interviews, the stay-at-home order due to COVID-19 went into effect. Due to the closure of many facilities, Lauri was faced with setbacks and obstacles preventing her from getting back on her feet and obtaining self-sufficiency. Because of HCAP’s mission of “POI: Providing Opportunities and Inspiration to Enable Low-Income Individuals or Families to Achieve Self-Reliance” and our staff’s dedication to make that a reality, HCAP’s services remained intact. Windward District Service Center’s staff reassured Lauri that they would continue to provide support and find new ways to provide services.

Windward District Service Center’s Community Worker, Cory, kept in close contact with Lauri during this time. Cory sent Lauri listings for job opportunities and updates on services. Lauri was also very persistent and followed up with employment leads and application submissions. Although many of the job interviews were cancelled and applications were put on hold, Lauri gained employment with a local grocery store where she is now a full-time employee. Lauri provided with essential work attire that is provided through HCAP’s Na Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program. And once the DMV is reopened, Cory will assist Lauri with obtaining her driver’s permit.

HCAP is dedicated to serving our communities remotely during COVID-19 so that people like Lauri are still able to thrive and receive the much needed opportunities and inspiration that they deserve.

Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program Provides Remote Lessons and STEM Kits to Students

During the stay-at-home order, the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program, a Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center, continues to engage students with remote learning lessons and projects.

This week, the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program delivered 24 STEM kits to families across Oʻahu. The kit contained the necessary items for the students to complete a lesson focused on investigating the science behind yeast in baked goods, specifically pretzels! Each kit included the ingredients, thermometer, instructions and a fact sheet to highlight the lesson. During an online Zoom lesson, students followed along as teacher Ms. Nicole, at Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program Kalihi STEM Exploration Center, reintroduced yeast as the helpful microbe that gives pretzels it’s light fluffy texture and very distinct taste. Ms. Nicole explained that yeast eats sugar to make CO2. She also explained how different parts of a grain of wheat add to the nutritional content of bread. Some of the students got creative and flavored their pretzels with cinnamon and cheese.

This was the second STEM kit the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program has delivered to students and HCAP hopes to deliver more in the coming weeks!

Kalihi-Palama District Service Center Assists Family in Obtaining Employment

Sharlene is a single mom raising two young adult children and one youth in housing provided by the Institute of Human Services (IHS). Sharlene and her daughter Susan were the first of their family to be introduced to HCAP’s Kalihi-Palama District Service Center at the Punawai Rest Stop Homeless Facility. With the help of the Kalihi-Palama District Service Center, Sharlene got a job driving for DOORDASH and is close to achieving 60 days of employment. Meanwhile, her daughter Susan obtained employment at the Hawaiian Telcom as a Customer Service Representative. Susan recently reached 60 days of employment and is making great headway to achieving her milestones. But Sharlene and Susan were not the only family members to benefit from HCAP’s services. Sharlene’s son Niko was also able to get a job at Pizza Hut.

The family is now working with IHS to move to the new Kahauiki Village near Nimitz and Keehi Lagoon Drive. They have made great steps towards self-sufficiency and continue to strive to obtain more permanent housing accommodations.

HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start Families Spend Quality Time Together with Home Activities

Staying at home with keiki all day can be a challenge. But HCAP’s Head Start & Early Head Start Program is dedicated to helping families ease the stress and keep their keiki engaged during this time. Head Start & Early Head Start teachers continue to provide home activities to families and keep in close contact with families through telephone calls/email. Here are a few activities that HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start families have been participating in to spend quality time with their keiki and keep them engaged.

Kaeo scoops water from the bowl and carefully pours it into the funnel. He says, “The water is warm!” He squirts food coloring in each bottle and names each color. He counts and scoops each spoonful of flour into the measuring cup and from there into each bottle. With a fork he stirs each bottle.

Kaeo uses the paint he mixed together to create rainbow colors on paper. He first names each layer of color and paints them neatly. For the final touches, he uses a straw to blow the paint. He understands the air he blows through the straw “moves” the color around.

HCAP’s Halawa Head Start keiki Hunter and Kennedy studied letters, numbers and patterns with their mom. They continue to learn together as family thanks to their home activities provided by HCAP Head Start.