GOVERNOR GREEN ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL COORDINATED RELIEF EFFORTS TO PROTECT HAWAI‘I FAMILIES FROM FEDERAL SHUTDOWN IMPACTS

News Release from Office of the Governor, October 30, 2025

HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green today announced new coordinated state actions to protect Hawaiʻi families from the impacts of the ongoing federal government shutdown and disruption to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

To provide necessary support, the state will issue a $250 emergency relief payment per eligible individual, for a total cost of $42.2 million in November, helping households bridge the gap created by the pause in federal SNAP funding.

In addition, the Governor has directed $2 million in state support through the Department of Human Services (DHS) to Hawai‘i’s food banks to maintain essential operations and food distribution across every island. Additionally, the state is releasing $500,000 for the Farm to Families program — spearheaded by the House Majority Caucus last session to purchase locally produced food.

“These are challenging times for working families across Hawaiʻi,” said Governor Green. “No one should go hungry or lose stability because of gridlock in Washington. When federal support is paused, Hawaiʻi stands up. We take care of one another and act with urgency and aloha to protect our people.”

The coordinated relief effort brings together the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, DHS, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), the Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE), and community partners including Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Maui Economic Opportunity, the Foodbank and Aloha United Way.

Expanded Relief and Family Assistance
The Hawaiʻi Relief Program, launched with $100 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding, provides up to four months of housing and utility assistance for families with children facing financial hardship. DHS has contracted Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi (CCH) and Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. (MEO) to administer the program statewide.

Applications opened October 29. Families on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi Island may apply through CCH, while residents of Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi may apply through MEO. Families do not need to be SNAP recipients to qualify.

For more information or to apply for the Hawaiʻi Relief Program, visit the appropriate website or call the office on your island. Families seeking help can also contact Aloha United Way’s 211 to be directed to CCH and MEO.

Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi (Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island)
Phone: 808-521-4357 (press “1” for financial assistance, then “1” for HRP)
Email: hrp.mail@catholiccharitieshawaii.org
Website: catholiccharitieshawaii.org/hawaii_relief_program

Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi)
Phone: 808-243-4357
Email: Housing.utility@meoinc.org
Website: meoinc.org

“We appreciate Governor Green’s leadership and decisive action in establishing the Hawai‘i Relief Program,” said Joseph Campos, deputy director of DHS. “Through this initiative, we can continue serving Hawai‘i’s families with compassion and integrity, ensuring essential support reaches those most affected by the shutdown.”

Support for Students and Schools
HIDOE confirmed that students certified for free meals through SNAP or TANF will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch for the entire school year despite the shutdown — benefitting roughly 39,000 students statewide. Families newly applying for SNAP or experiencing income loss are encouraged to apply for subsidized student meals to ensure no child goes hungry.

Community Support and Volunteer Efforts
The state is also expanding its partnership with Aloha United Way, activating 211 as the statewide hotline connecting families with food, housing, healthcare and social services. Act 310 funding — totaling $50 million in grants — will help local nonprofits sustain essential community services during this period.

Families seeking help can contact Aloha United Way’s 211, available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., including holidays. The hotline connects callers with food, housing, healthcare and other vital services.

•           Call: 211 anywhere in Hawaiʻi
•           Text: 877-275-6569 (for deaf or hard of hearing)
•           Live Chat: auw211.org

Additionally, a new State Employee Volunteer Program will allow state workers to volunteer up to eight hours per month through the end of the year to assist nonprofits such as the Hawai‘i Foodbank. A formal memo outlining participation details will be issued to all departments next week.

Support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has committed $6.1 million in emergency relief funds to assist Native Hawaiian families experiencing food insecurity, loss of utilities, or housing instability.

Governor Green’s Executive Order is here.
Photos from today’s news conference, courtesy Office of the Governor, will be uploaded here.
Today’s news conference video can be found here.

PDF: 2510103-ATG_Executive-Order-No.-25-09-Hawaii-Relief-Program.pdf

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GOVERNOR GREEN ANNOUNCES COORDINATED RELIEF EFFORT TO PROTECT HAWAIʻI FAMILIES FROM FEDERAL SHUTDOWN IMPACTS

Support for Housing and Utility Payments

News Release from Office of the Governor, October 29, 2025

HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green today announced a coordinated relief effort to protect Hawaiʻi families from Federal shutdown impacts.  In partnership with the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), the Department of Education (HIDOE) and other state agencies, the Green Administration is activating multiple avenues of support to help households who may temporarily lose benefits under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) starting November 1. Applications for the Hawaiʻi Relief Program will be accepted beginning today, Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

The shutdown of the federal government has caused uncertainty and will result in food insecurity for 165,000 individuals in Hawaiʻi who depend on SNAP benefits. Under the Hawaiʻi Relief Program, the Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services, along with its partners, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi (CCH) and Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. (MEO), will provide up to four months of TANF support for housing and utility payments for eligible families who have at least one dependent child in their household and are in financial crisis or have an episode of need.

The Hawaiʻi Relief Program is separate from the ongoing TANF cash assistance benefits and has a different application process, eligibility criteria and requirements. Individuals do not need to be on SNAP to apply for the Hawaiʻi Relief Program. To be eligible for the Hawaiʻi Relief Program, a family must demonstrate a financial crisis or an episode of need; have at least one dependent child under the age of 18 in the family; and meet the income eligibility guidelines. A financial crisis or episode of need exists when there is financial instability due to an unexpected event (e.g., furlough, layoff, medical emergency, natural disaster, etc.) and an impending eviction or disconnection of a utility source because the family is behind on housing or utility payments, or the family is currently homeless.A family may apply for TANF housing and utility payments support through the Hawaiʻi Relief Program based on its current needs.

DHS contracted CCH and MEO to administer the Hawaiʻi Relief Program statewide. CCH and MEO are nonprofit, community-based agencies with expertise in providing services to families and children. CCH will administer the Hawaiʻi Relief Program on the islands of Kauaʻi, Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island, while MEO will administer the program on the islands of Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.

As part of the state’s coordinated response, Governor Green has provided $2 million in state support from the Department of Human Services to Hawai‘i Foodbank for statewide support in this time of need.

These resources will immediately bolster local food banks so they can continue delivering essential food assistance to our communities across every island. At a time when federal support is paused, Hawaiʻi is stepping up to make sure our kūpuna, our keiki and our working families are supported.

“These are challenging times for working families across Hawaiʻi. No one should go hungry or lose stability because of gridlock in Washington, D.C.,” said Governor Green. “Our administration, together with the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, the Department of Human Services, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Department of Education and community partners — is stepping up to ensure everyone in Hawaiʻi has access to food and essential aid during this federal shutdown.”

“We appreciate Governor Green’s leadership and decisive action in establishing the Hawai‘i Relief Program,” said Joseph Campos, deputy director of the Department of Human Services. “Through this initiative, we can continue serving Hawai‘i’s families with compassion and integrity, ensuring that essential support reaches those most affected by the federal shutdown.”

“The state’s new Hawai‘i Relief Program reflects what Hawai‘i does best: Our community coming and working together to help those in time of need,” said Catholic Charities Hawai‘i President and CEO Tina Andrade. “We’re grateful to partner with Governor Green and the state Department of Human Services to ensure these valuable financial resources reach those who need them the most. CCH has stood with Hawai‘i families through every crisis — from the recent pandemic to the Maui wildfires — by helping to provide critical rent and mortgage relief. We are honored to continue that mission through this state-led housing assistance program.”

“We understand the challenges residents are facing as many adapt to new requirements to access essential services such as food and housing,” said MEO Chief Executive Officer Debbie Cabebe. “MEO is honored to assist with this transition by administering the Hawai‘i Relief Program in partnership with the state Department of Human Services. As we have for the past 60 years, MEO stands ready to help.”

For more information or to apply starting October 29, please visit the appropriate website or call the office on your island.

Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi for residents on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island
Telephone Number: 808-521-4357, press “1” for financial assistance, and press “1” again for the Hawaiʻi Relief Program (HRP) Team.

Email Address: hrp.mail@catholiccharitieshawaii.org

Website and Online Application:

https://www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org/hawaii_relief_program/

Honolulu Office
1822 Keʻeaumoku Street
Honolulu

Leeward Oʻahu Office
86-082 Farrington Highway #255
Waiʻanae

West Hawaiʻi Island Office
73-5618 Maiau Street
Kailua-Kona

East Hawaiʻi Island Office
58 Kinoʻole Street, Suite 104
Hilo

Kauaʻi Office
4373 Rice Street #1
Līhuʻe

Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., for residents on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi
Telephone Number: 808-243-4357
Email Address: Housing.utility@meoinc.org
Website: https://www.meoinc.org/

Online Application:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/3d429f59d6874122baedf6fb19d85913

Maui Office
Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Family Center
99 Mahalani Street
Wailuku

East Maui Office
Hāna Neighborhood Center
5060 Uakea Road
Hāna

Molokaʻi Office
380 Kolapa Place
Kaunakakai

Lānaʻi Office
1144 ʻIlima Avenue #102
Lānaʻi City

Vibrant Hawai‘i is also providing resources to those impacted by the federal shutdown: https://www.vibranthawaii.org/

Click here for Hawai‘i Relief Program FAQs.
Click here for a video statement from DHS Deputy Director Joseph Campos.

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CB: Government Shutdown: Hawaiʻi Announces Financial Aid For Housing, Utilities - Honolulu Civil Beat

CB: Hawaiʻi Shutdown Response: SNAP Recipients To Get $250 Apiece - Honolulu Civil Beat