The Salvation Army's emergency funds to assist families who face eviction will completely run out by February due to a lack of funds, according to Chad Buchanan, family services office coordinator. Salvation Army is low on
funds for rent support
Star-Bulletin staff
"Each month, we have had a waiting list of over 100 persons at the brink of homelessness," said Buchanan. "They are unable to pay rent due to personal crisis beyond their control such as unemployment, insufficient wages and rising rent costs."
During the last two months, the Salvation Army's Family Services Office in Honolulu has been struggling to serve a large number of families seeking rent and utility assistance.
Salvation Army officials are asking for the public's assistance to help needy families.
"Rents are going up, and also units in particular are not as available as they used to be," Buchanan said.
He noted about 775 households representing 2,674 individuals received housing assistance four months after the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedy. An estimated 3,000 people remain on the waiting list, Buchanan added.
So far, an estimated $20,000 out of more than $65,000 of funds is left from the state homeless emergency grant to support families in need of rent and utility assistance, Buchanan said.
"We support these families in many ways by providing food, clothes and life-skills training to help them plan for the future, but financial assistance is so critical to prevent or resolve emergencies such as homelessness," he said.
Those interested in making a donation can send a check payable to the Salvation Army to P.O. Box 620, Honolulu, HI 96809-0620. Checks should be earmarked as "emergency assistance."
