OHA seeks non-profit to administer $1.66 million emergency financial assistance grant

News Release from OHA, June 28, 2019

HONOLULU (June 28, 2019) – OHA announced today that it is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for a $1.66-million grant to provide emergency financial assistance to low-income Native Hawaiians.

“Our Emergency Financial Assistance grant is one of our most important programs because it helps individual Native Hawaiians and families who are facing great hardships and are most in need,” said OHA Chair Colette Machado.  “We ask nonprofit organizations to apply to assist us in administering this critical service to our community.”

The purpose of the Emergency Financial Assistance grant is to support OHA’s Strategic Priority of Economic Self-Sufficiency. The grant is intended to assist Native Hawaiians statewide, whose incomes are at or below 300 percent of Hawaiʻi Federal Poverty Guidelines, to address unexpected crises, such as loss of income, loss of employment by layoff, debilitating illness or injury or other unanticipated circumstances. The grant will provide qualified individuals and families with emergency funding to stabilize their situation. The grant will also provide financial literacy counseling, case management services and referrals to other service providers to help Native Hawaiians get on a path to long-term economic stability.

The solicitation seeks applications for funding for a two-year grant period, from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2021.  Funding is subject to approval by OHA’s Board of Trustees and to the availability of funding.

Applicants are urged to attend one of three orientation sessions that will be held in early July.  Applications are only available online and are due by 2 p.m. Friday, July 26, 2019. 

For more information about the grant, including the solicitation, online application and orientation schedule, please visit www.oha.org/grants.