HCAP WEEKLY October 3, 2022

LIHEAP Energy Crisis Intervention Restores Kūpuna’s Electricity

As individuals and families are still recovering financially from the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of electricity continues to rise. For kūpuna like Ernest, keeping the lights on has become increasingly difficult due to their fixed income. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Energy Crisis Intervention (ECI) provides much-needed relief to households struggling to keep up with the rising costs.

Ernest’s power was disconnected after a series of financial hardships. He had fallen behind on bill payments when he lost his income during the pandemic. Then, after returning to work, a medical emergency forced him into early retirement, leaving him overwhelmed with an unpaid mortgage and utility bills. Looking for a way to get his power restored, Ernest contacted HCAP’s Central District Service Center in September to apply for the LIHEAP ECI.

The ECI is designed to help households that are facing disconnection of their electric/gas services, or have already been disconnected, by providing a payment to the energy provider on the household’s behalf. Ernest was able to pay a portion of his electric bill, and assistance from the ECI ultimately helped him get his power restored. Central District Service Center staff have seen many families dealing with financial situations similar to Ernest’s, for whom the ECI has been a critical source of support.

Applications for the LIHEAP ECI are accepted year-round at HCAP’s District Service Centers. Please call your nearest District Service Center to begin the application process. Click Here for more information about LIHEAP.

Kunia Keiki Make a Family Tree

Keiki at Kunia III’s Head Start classroom created their own Family Tree, complete with painted apples and family photos. First, keiki employed their fine motor and color recognition skills when painting and selecting the color of their apple. On day two, the keiki shared photos of their families and identified each family member pictured.

Finally, they engaged in three step directions to assemble their family tree. They were asked to recall the color of their apple, identify their family members, and determine where they wanted their apple placed on the tree. The keiki are proud of their family tree and admire it in the classroom daily!

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

Central District Staff Attend Waiawa Correctional Facility Job Fair

Last week, Central District Service Center staff attended Waiawa Correctional Facility’s Resource Day and Job Fair to connect work furlough program participants with Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services. Attendees and service providers were excited for the return of this annual event, which was canceled for the past two years due to the pandemic.

The job fair focused on helping work furlough program participants at the correctional facility prepare to successfully transition back into the community. Around 150 participants were able to meet with local employers and service providers during the event, and find resources to assist with their reintegration. HCAP staff passed out brochures and shared the variety of employment and educational services available through Nā Lima Hana. HCAP looks forward to continued collaboration with Waiawa Correctional Facility as part of this ongoing partnership.

Click Here to learn more about Nā Lima Hana.