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POSTED: Sunday, December 14, 2008

With 160,000 members in Hawaii, 40 million nationally, the AARP is the go-to organization for older Americans looking for information on retirement and other issues dealing with aging.

Among its divisions is the AARP Foundation, the organization's charitable arm.

Perhaps the Foundation's most visible program is Tax-Aide, which annually provides free income tax preparation services for lower to middle-income people and those over the age of 60.

“;Now that we've entered these rough financial shoals, the Foundation is still there, committed to mostly vulnerable individuals - those who are risk of falling into poverty during the second half of their lives,”; Bruce Bottorff, associate state director of the AARP of Hawaii.

In addition to Tax Aide, which will be offered again beginning February, the AARP has a benefits outreach program “;that helps people struggling to pay for life's basic necessities, by connecting them to an online tool that makes them aware of public benefits they might not know exists,”; he said.

The Foundation also has a grandparenting program, which connects grandparents who provide care or who have custody of their grandchildren to public benefits and community resources. That might particularly be beneficial in Hawaii, which has one of the highest percentages of grandparents caring for grandchildren in the country, Bottorff said.

For information on these and other programs, go to the Web site, aarp.org and click on AARP Foundation, then “;Benefits Quicklink.”;

The Web site also has links to personal finance, retirement and consumer information, with financial calculators on such subjects as mortgage payoffs, retirement nest eggs, college savings and home budgets.

Those resources are always there, but they're examples of the kind of “;money management ones that people are looking to more and more, especially the vulnerable populations in these difficult financial times,”; Bottorff said.

 

Churches

For either immediate or long-term help, churches have always been a reliable and comforting resource, either providing direct services, partnering with government and nonprofit agencies to offer services, or referring people to nonsectarian agencies that can help.

The Catholic Diocese's Office of Social Ministries has several charges, among them to ensure that all 67 parishes in the state are involved in community service, said Carol Ignacio, who heads the office in Hilo.

“;Without exception, there is some kind of service within parish life that extends to the community,”; she said.

The parishes are all experiencing an increased demand for food statewide, just as more people are shopping at “;clothes closets”; and thrift shops.

  When times get hard, people will usually go to their nearest church, whatever denomination it is, Ignacio said, describing churches as a community's “;a safety net.”;

Within the Diocese, churches will help with what they can, such as food, otherwise, they will usually connect them with a social service agency, Ignacio said, noting “;that partnership is a strong one.”;

What she's found is that there is no competition among or between the churches and social service providers, at least from the neighbor island perspective.

“;That's because, the less you have, you realize the stronger you are when you start pooling resources,”; she said.

One example: the Catholic Church has a longtime partnership with New Hope Christian Fellowship in downtown Hilo.

“;Statewide, we're looking at what we have in common, and that's usually humanity, and how is it that we can bring more resources to the community,”; Ignacio said.

The United Church of Christ, with 130 churches in the islands, is the largest Protestant denomination, counting among its members Central Union and Kawaiahao, as well as many small congregations across the state.

Some churches run thrift shops and food pantries, some serve dinners for the homeless and some offer “;benevolence funds”; to help people in the community, said the Rev. Diane Weible, associate conference minister for stewardship for the United Church of Christ.

“;Our churches do participate in a lot of different ways to reach out to the community, either going out and serving, or by having different forms of help on their campus,”; she said.

Weible suggests people in need to simply contact any church in the community: “;Each church is different in what they may offer.”;

In difficult times, this is what the church is about - “;reaching out to people and helping them. All of our churches are looking at ways that they can help,”; Weible said.

 

Credit counseling

Getting a handle on their spending is the first advice people are given when they call the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Hawaii.

Budgeting is perhaps the most important thing they can do to keep from falling off the financial cliff.

People can download and fill out personal income and expense forms on the nonprofit organization's Web site, cccsofhawaii.org.

“;It's a very eye-popping process for people,”; said Executive Director Wendy Burkholder, talking about people tallying day-to-day “;soup to nuts”; expenses, then seeing the figure topping their net income.

Very often, they may be running, say $500 shy a month, then “;plugging the pukas with the credit card,”; she said. They're “;completely unaware”; that they're creating debt.

Many people “;just kind of live from one paycheck to the next, hoping to hold it together,”; Burkholder said. But she warned, “;when there's no plan, there's chaos.”;

 

Public Libraries

Reports from Hilo to Wailuku to Pearl City to Koloa indicate significant increases in Internet use at public libraries, according to Paul Mark, spokesman for the Hawaii State Public Library System.

We had asked if there was any notable increase in usage, one barometer that people are looking for alternatives to buying books and magazines or paying to go online.

Not only are library patrons taking advantage of free Internet access at all branches (as well as Wi-Fi wireless public access at the Salt lake-Moanalua Public Library), Mark also noted that circulation for the most recent four-month period has risen by more than 100,000 items over last year.

“;Patrons who use their library during tough economic times are certain to save money,”; he said.

 

Places to get help

One-Stop Resource

Call the Aloha United Way at 211, 24 hours a day, or go online at www.auw211.org/. 211 has a database of 4,000 services provided by 1,700 government and nonprofit agencies and organizations, and can connect people looking for help finding food, shelter, emergency services, childcare, job training, etc., and/or dealing with financial problems, domestic violence, drug abuse and the like.

 

Career/Job Information

» Laid off/Displaced Workers: Go to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Web site hawaii.gov/labor/rapidresponse. Find information on programs and services available to laid off/displaced workers, including how to file for unemployment, what health coverage is available, how to get food stamps, job resources and counseling services.

» HireNet Hawaii: Hawaii.gov/labor/HIRE.NET/HIRE.NET - provides employment services via the Internet. People looking for jobs can post their resumes online, assess their skills, get career information and job training, and possibly even find jobs.

 

Credit Help

» Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Hawaii: On Oahu, call 532-3225; on Maui, Molokai and Lanai, call 242-8399; on the Big Island and Kauai, call 969-7136; or check its Web site, cccsofhawaii.org.

 

Emotional or Mental Help

» 24-hour ACCESS Line: 832-3100; neighbor islands, (800) 753-6879. Provides suicide prevention/crisis services, a mobile crisis outreach unit and is the gateway to finding services in the state's mental health system.

» Mental Health America of Hawaii: call 521-1846, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or check its Web site, http://www.mentalhealth-hi.org. Agency matches people to mental health services in the community. It has a free 15-page list of numbers where people can call for help.

» Hawaii Psychological Association: Call 521-8995 or go to its Web site, www.hawaiipsych.org. Find a list of psychologists in Hawaii.

 

Free library services

The Hawaii State Public Library System has all kinds of free information and services. Visit your local library or check online at www.librarieshawaii.org. Beyond free access to best sellers, magazines and compact discs, the libraries are good resources for finding out how to budget and cut costs, research jobs or how to deal with the anxiety or uncertainties. Services include: 24/7 remote access to Online databases and Public Access Catalog; downloadable e-books, audiobooks, and e-music; E-Reference (Ask A Librarian); free performance and informational programs for all ages; baby lap-sit, Toddler, and Preschool storytimes; DVD rental for a $1 a week; college and career Information; and “;Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”; books.

 

Financial Help / Retirement planning

» AARP Hawaii: Call 843-1906 or check its Web site, www.aarp.org/states/hi. Click on “;AARP Foundation”; then “;Benefits QuickLink”; to find out about a public benefits outreach program and grandparenting benefits program. Click on “;Money”; to find resources about preparing for retirement and other financial concerns.

 

General Community Resources

Contact your church or a church in the community to find out about food pantries, thrift shops, and programs and services available to those in need.

 

Tips on coping after a layoff

» Seek out your support systems, whether it's your family, friends, church or another resource.

» Talk to your family honestly about what's going on.

» Sit down and take inventory of basic needs on paper so you know what it is.

» Focus on your strengths and what you can do, not who's to blame about your situation.

» Take a class to learn a new skill, stay stimulated and connected.

» Find simple ways to relieve stress, a walk on the beach, a funny movie, etc.

» Don't forget to take care of yourself and your health.

» Get creative and think outside the box. Times of change are opportunities for development, maybe to start your own business.

» Establish priorities, and focus on what's most important in moving forward.

» Don't lose self-esteem.

Source: Sarah Hodell, counselor and career specialist, Windward Community College; Susan Kim, personal coach, www.susankimcoaching.com.