Announcements: January 20, 2021

Transfer stations close for safety training

All Solid Waste Transfer Stations islandwide will close for the division’s quarterly safety employee training on Wednesday.

The Reload Facility, located at the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill and the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill, located in Waikoloa, will continue to accept municipal solid waste during regular business hours from 7 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

For more information, visit www.hawaiizerowaste.org.

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Partnership launches network of Financial Opportunity Centers

Local nonprofit organization Hawaiian Community Assets in partnership with national partner Local Initiatives Support Corporation announces the launch of the nation’s first statewide network of Financial Opportunity Centers (FOC) that will serve the Hawaii residents.

Hawaiian Community Assets has been working with Local Initiatives Support Corporation to implement the FOC model in its statewide offices located on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai to begin offering tailored services designed to help center participants secure living wage jobs, build credit, reduce debt, and gain wealth.

“During a critical national economic turning point, the FOC model is more important than ever. Supporting families learn how to change their financial behavior in ways that increase income, decrease expenses and help acquire assets is what our communities need to recover from the COVID crisis,” said Caitlin Cain, vice president of Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

Hawaiian Community Assets-operated FOCs are currently open in Hilo, Honolulu, and Wailuku, Maui. Its newest center on Kauai is planned for opening in October. These centers target and serve residents living in urban and rural communities in the counties where each center is located.

FOCs focus on the financial bottom line for low-to-moderate income individuals. They provide families with services across three areas: employment services; financial education and coaching; and public benefits access. The core services are offered through an integrated, data-driven model in order to reinforce one another and to provide a multi-faceted approach to income and wealth building. Data has shown that clients receiving this integrated approach through the FOC model, are more likely to be employed year-round, reduce non asset-related debt, build a positive credit history, and be employed longer.

The statewide network of HCA FOCs has a goal to collectively support more than 500 individuals and families in the first year with customized financial stability action plans. The FOC model serves 30,000 individuals and families annually through more than 100 FOCs operating across the country.

For more information, visit www.hawaiiancommunity.net.