Find Resources for the Maui Wildfire Relief
Financial Assistance Benefits for Families with Children
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federal and state funded grant program run by the Department of Human Services (DHS), Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD). The program was first implemented in 1997 as the result of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF Program is a federal funded block grant program. A primary eligibility requirement to receive TANF funds is U.S. citizenship. TANF funding is limited to U.S. citizens, single or two-parent households with minor dependent children. These program requirements are in accordance with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) (Welfare Reform). Prior to Welfare Reform, the Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) did not distinguish between citizen or non-citizen or single or two-parent households.
There are four (4) TANF purposes:
TANF Purpose 1: “To provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives.”
• Direct cash assistance payments to families • Self-sufficiency program • Income disregard • Financial counseling
All programs are subject to established eligibility criteria that will be explained to you by a DHS worker.
TANF Purpose 2: “To end the dependence of parents on government assistance benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage.”
TANF applicants and recipients are referred to the Department’s First-To-Work (FTW) program to prepare for financial independence. An assigned FTW case manager will help you reach your employment goal with any of the following activities and supportive services:
• Job search and job preparedness • Subsidized / Unsubsidized employment • Preparation for GED or high school equivalency • Job skills training • On-the-job training
• Domestic violence advocacy services • Ongoing counseling and supportt • Supportive services: • Child care subsidies • Transportation assistancet • Work- and education-related expenses
TANF Purpose 3: “To prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies.”
DHS has partnered with a variety of community-based agencies to provide Hawaii families with programs designed to help prevent teen and out-of-wedlock pregnancies. These programs include:
• After-school programs • Youth abstinence and pregnancy prevention programs • Positive youth development programs • Youth mentoring services
TANF Purpose 4: “To encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.”
Programs provided by DHS and community-based agencies that teach the skills necessary to build strong families. Services include:
• Fatherhood services • Family strengthening programs • Marriage / Couples counseling • Parenting skills • Home-based parenting and family counseling
WHERE TO APPLY?
You may apply for TANF financial assistance benefits at a DHS Processing Center. For a list of centers, please visit the DHS website here. Maui County processing Centers are:
Maui Processing Center
State Building
54 High St. #125
Wailuku, HI 96793
Fax: 808-984-8333
Email: MauiPC@dhs.hawaii.gov
Lunalilo Building – Lobby remains closed until further notice
35 Lunalilo St., Suite 300
Wailuku, HI 96793
Fax: 808-243-5114
Email: MauiPC@dhs.hawaii.gov
To reach our Statewide Branch Support Desk, please dial toll free: 1-855-643-1643. You may also call the Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643.
You may apply for assistance online through the Public Assistance Information System (PAIS) here.
Have you been impacted by the wildfires on Maui? Call the Public Assistance Information Line (PAIS), a nation-wide toll-free number (1-855-643-1643) available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day for information on their programs.
BESSD is the largest division in the Department of Human Services. Staff and administrators provide a continuum of services, through nine programs that serve different populations, aimed at providing clients with monthly benefits to assist them with such essentials as food, shelter, and child care, as well as employment support and work-training and dependency diversion and prevention.
The PAIS website https://pais.dhs.hawaii.gov is accessible 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. They both provide basic information on a variety of assistance programs offered through the Department of Human Services:
For a step-by-step guide to accessing PAIS, read this informational brochure.
Department of Human Services Public Assistance Information System includes many services:
For information about the Department of Human Services, please visit:
State of Hawaii Department of Human Services
For information about DHS Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) including SNAP and Financial Assistance, please visit:
State of Hawaii Department of Human Services, Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division Website
For information about DHS Medical Assistance Programs, also called QUEST Integration, Fee-for-Service, Long Term Care, please visit:
State of Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division Website
In light of the recent disasters on Maui, Hale Makua has decided to setup a fund to assist those who may need financial support during a disaster or emergency situation. Though we cannot guarantee that funds will go to a particular individual, emergency, or disaster, anyone who is experiencing a disaster or emergency will be allowed to apply for funding with priority given to Hale Makua and Ohana Pacific Health staff, their immediate family, Hale Makua and OPH residents, and compromised individuals. Please consider making a contribution to this fund to help this cause.
Click here to donate to the Hale Makua Emergency/Disaster Relief Fund.
If you prefer to send a check donation, please make it payable to "Hale Makua" and please indicate in the Memo "Employee Disaster Relief Fund" to ensure proper designation of your donation. Please mail checks to mailed to:
Hale Makua Health Services
Disaster/Emergency Relief Fund
ATTN: Office of Development
472 Kaulana Street
Kahului, HI 96732
If you have questions about donations, please give us a call at 808-871-9271.
Hale Makua is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (Tax ID 99-0080460)
If you have been affected by a recent emergency/disaster like the Maui wildfires, you may apply for funding by visiting the application for the Hale Makua Disaster/Emergency Relief Fund application form page.
Thanks to donations received by the community, Hale Makua is offering financial assistance for those impacted by a disaster or emergency situation. Applications will be reviewed and awarded based on needs, with priority given to Hale Makua and Ohana Pacific Health staff and immediate family, Hale Makua and Ohana Pacific Health residents, and compromised individuals.
Please submit one application per household, applicant must be at least 18 years old or older. Funds are issued at a maximum $5,000 per award. If additional funds are needed at a later time, a new application may be submitted for review and consideration. Funds awarded will be dependent on the amount of funding available, and can therefore not be guaranteed.
Contact Development Office at 808-871-9271 for questions.
Our Administrative and Business Offices are open Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
OFFER support or post a NEED for support or services in this local community disaster relief Facebook page. The purpose of this group is where we can have a "go to" hub to locally exchange information of supplies/help *needed* and services and help we can *offer* due to disasters on Maui.
This group will only help with YOUR help. Please SHARE this group. Invite people. Etc. Let's help our friends and families get their lives back!
✔️1. If you have something to *OFFER* (manpower, supplies, services, clean up, food, transportation, housing, etc) please start your post in ALL CAPS saying *OFFER*
✔️2. If you are in *NEED* of something (specific supplies, manpower, services, food, transportation, housing, etc) please start your post in ALL CAPS saying *NEED*.
✔️3. If you have an announcement of volunteer opportunities, meetings, new developments on Maui regarding the fire, legit donation websites, etc. Please start your post in ALL CAPS saying *ANNOUNCEMENT*
PLEASE try to keep to these categories so we can use this group to be as effective and helpful as possible
Please keep in mind whenever DONATING to ANY cause, please only donate items in clean, unstained, smell free and working conditions. It is disrespectful to think that anyone would want stained, smelly or broken items.
Kaiser Permanente will continue to provide medical services to the public at two locations in Lahaina. Pharmacy courier services will be available, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week.
Kaiser Permanente’s First Aid Stations at Nāpili Plaza and the War Memorial Gym have permanently closed on Sunday, Aug. 20.
Maui Health clinicians and physicians will continue pop-up clinics for the west side – but the locations at Lahaina Gateway and Nāpili Plaza are moving to Hyatt Regency in Kāʻanapali starting 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21. First-aid, wound care, health and wellness checks and pharmacy services, including baby formula for all community members in need, regardless of health insurance, are available. For details, visit www.mauihealth.org/wildfire.
Hawaii CARES 988 is a 24/7, free support service for help with crisis, mental health, and substance abuse. If you need mental health-related or addiction crisis support, or are worried about someone else, you can also call or text 988 (TTY 711) or visit the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s chat for free, confidential support with a trained crisis counselor.
Maui Nui Strong is a program of the County of Maui Economic Development that connects our residents, businesses, and visitors to useful information about Maui County, our diverse islands, and a variety of resources that help to promote thriving and vibrant communities.
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