Groups lobby to save
the state’s safety net

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By Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.com

It will take between 10 and 20 years to rebuild the $90 million state affordable housing fund if the Legislature uses half that money to help balance the state budget.

It is just one of the many warning shots fired at legislators yesterday from education, health and human services providers who fear proposed raids of $120 million in dedicated state special funds and elimination of money for various state programs will leave a gaping hole in the state's safety net to help the young, needy, poor, sick and abused.

Legislators are eyeing the funds to make up a $300 million deficit in the state budget.

Those concerns prompted the creation of Save the Safety Net, an alliance of Hawaii coalitions working to ensure the state budget's impact on people is not forgotten. About 80 advocates showed up at a state Capitol rally yesterday to remind legislators what is at stake.

"As the legislative session comes to a close, Hawaii's safety net system is on the chopping block," said Kathleen Hasegawa, executive director of the Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance.

"Human services, education and housing are all perilously close to being cut. A place to live underlies every other issue in our quality of life," she said.

Claire Woods, executive director of the Salvation Army's Family Treatment Services, said a proposed freeze of the state's $2.1 million alcohol and drug treatment program will put people at risk and will lead to increased cases of drug abuse, domestic violence, homelessness and death.

She wants lawmakers who support their programs to stand up and be counted.

"We are looking for a leader," Woods said. "Both parties have exhibited few positive choices."

Nanci Kreidman, executive director of the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse, said what is being lost here in talks about budget cuts is hope. She questions why basic services for people are being made the last priority when they should be the state's top concern.

"This should not be the last thing, but the most important thing," Kreidman said. "If they do not understand, they can ask us what is at stake."

Susan Au Doyle, co-chairwoman of Hawaii Together and vice president of community building at Aloha United Way, said the impact of the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks was immediate and far-reaching, but Hawaii's health and human services network was able to comfort, counsel and care for people through that crisis.

Since then, she said, Hawaii's safety net has been stretched to its limits.

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