131 Maui fire survivors who were released after the reduction in federal financing

A total of 131 Maui residents, which were expelled of August 8, 2023, were released on Monday after the Trump administration has reduced the financing of the federal funding for their positions, and the work on the relaxation efforts.

The workers were employed by the national Last Working Works Grant program and for 27 “hosts” for cleaning up, relaxation and humanitarian efforts in accordance with the Maui Economic Opportunity, which manages the Federal Grant Program on the island.

In a Monday letter to all NDWG participants and their employers, Meo said that they had hired the business activities of the program – and the jobs he financed after they had been informed by the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations that the money was no longer available.

“All people who thought they were working on Tuesday were informed on Monday evening that it was over. I mean, that's pretty hard. Many of these boys are survivors or help survivors, ”Tamara Paltin, member of the County County County, told The Honolulu Star-Adverter. “The federal government expects people to pay rent next month. So that's rough. “

The City Council for Hawaiian promotion council announced on Tuesday that 17 employees who are involved in his Kako'o Maui Recovery programs were put on vacation due to financing, which affects direct help for wildfire survivors in the now closed Kako'O sales center. The 17 were part of the 131 workers who lost their positions.

“Today Kako'o Maui, like many other community organizations, is confronted with the loss of the majority of our employees due to the freezing of federal financing, which affects national sales workers. This loss led to the temporary closure of the Kako'O sales center, ”said Kako'o Maui officer in an e -mail to CNHA. “If we continue to work with the challenges of the HR department, planned appointments will be canceled until further terminations. We understand our commitment and kuleana for the community and actively look for opportunities to continue to serve them. Mahalo for your understanding. “

Paltin said the loss was significant for Maui.

“Some of the immediate effects are the Kako'O resource center – many of their workers have been released, and they had to cancel all their appointments with survivors and not open today. I know that the Humane Society was hit, ”said Paltin, referring to the financial loss of the Maui Humane Society, who released three employees.

CNA officials said that they recognized the significant effects of the funding on families who are still recovering from the Maui forest fires and take immediate measures to restore the positions concerned and prevent future disorders.

The organization is looking for alternative sources of financing to maintain their programs and restore the employees concerned, according to the officials.

“These employees were the backbone of our Maui recovery efforts and ensured that thousands of residents of Lahaina had food, accommodation and essential supplies,” said CNHA CEO KuHio Lewis in a statement. “This financing reduction was given without a clear assessment of its effects, and the loss of these jobs will disrupt the services that families still rely on every day.”

In response to these financing challenges, CNHA aims to finance private foundations, including the Hawaii Community Foundation, to restore the affected jobs. Lewis also traveled to Washington, DC on Tuesday, to work for the restoration of NDWG funds.

“Our message to the political decision -makers is simple: these services are still urgently needed and cuts like this have real consequences for real families. We hope that the federal government will prioritize data -oriented decision -making instead of submitting reductions that reverse the months of progress, ”said Lewis.

According to Lewis, CNHA examines long -term financing strategies together with direct solutions to ensure that Maui's recovery efforts go beyond the current crisis. The organization also hopes to continuously support the families affected by the forest fires, and emphasizes the need for stability, even when federal financing ends.

Before freezing the financial center, NDWG had helped over 300 displaced people at 51 recovery sites since October 2023. Meo reported that she could not cover the request for reimbursement in January or the expenses for January 31 to February 25th. Although a district subsidy cover some program costs, there are concerns that some work pages are now not to be countered.

“This has left no other choice than to conclude immediately to prevent further expenses that are not potentially unable to reimburse,” said Debbie Cabebe, Chief Executive Officer from MeO, in an explanation. “We do not have a wealth of discretionary funds to potentially cover millions of dollars.”

Meo officers said they had hoped to continue ndwg until the end of September. Since its foundation, NDWG has had temporary employment opportunities between 20.50 and 27 US dollars per hour, so that employees can support themselves and at the same time contribute to recovery efforts.

While Paltin recognized that some employees may have been switched to other employment opportunities, she emphasized that the program was intended as a temporary bridge for permanent employment.

“I imagine some jobs that the people reopened before the fire,” she said. “Because, as you know, things were closed immediately after the fire. But the transition was not as if they were fired. Don't come back tomorrow, do you know? “

Meo works with employers and the Maui County American Job Center to support displaced people in finding new employment.

A resource fair is planned on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Meo Family Center in Wailuku.

The NDWG participants are asked to contact (808) 877-6555 for supporting unemployment benefits.

The Maui American Job Center can also be supported in the 110 Alaihi St., Suite 209, Kahului or online at Mauicounty.gov/1116/mau-american-job-Center.

Paltin said that the effects of these federal cuts on Maui's recovery efforts could lead to a higher need and that the loss of financing would intensify the challenges for families in the recovery process.

“Just suffer and need,” she said. “There is currently a lot of uncertainty in relation to the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Funds. But we will only try to keep the course on it. “

Paltin said these federal funds were expected to recreate projects, including state -supported apartments such as the Front Street Apartments. With uncertainties that associated the financing, the district may have to explore alternative solutions.

“It is questionable. There will be a lot more suffering for people, ”she said. “And for the district we have to be flexible and creative – we already had many people through the cracks. This will only tighten things. ”