LIHU‘E — Not only are private and public sectors getting walloped by the economy’s hammer, nonprofits are taking hits too. Even though demand is increasing, budget and funding cutbacks have become inevitable for many social services, said Mary Williamson, executive
LIHU‘E — Not only are private and public sectors getting walloped by the economy’s hammer, nonprofits are taking hits too.
Even though demand is increasing, budget and funding cutbacks have become inevitable for many social services, said Mary Williamson, executive director for the American Cancer Society.
“A lot of us are keeping our heads above water, but it is getting tougher,” she said Wednesday.
The American Cancer Society on Kaua‘i is having to do more with less. Its office, which once staffed three employees, is now down to two despite an uptick in demand due to families encountering financial strain and the rise in baby boomers moving into their “cancer years,” Williamson said.
Demand has also increased at the Kaua‘i Food Bank by some 53 percent since the beginning of the year.
“I’ve never seen anything grow so fast over such a short period of time; it’s radical,” Executive Director Judy Lenthall said.
The agency has been able to keep up with the demand so far, she added.
“It’s only a rough patch, it’s not forever,” Lenthall said.
What surprises her the most about this situation in particular, she said, are that those who were once able to offer donations are now in need of services.
“We have an overwhelming, amazing need,” she said.
Other agencies that are feeling the gap widen between resources and demand are Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i and Hina Mauka.
The latter, an addiction treatment organization, recently went from a staff of seven to a staff of two and endured a reduction in office space due to budget and funding cuts.
“We’re struggling, but we’re hanging in there,” said Charlette Souza, clinical supervisor of Hina Mauka on Kaua‘i.
In February, the organization was denied the ability to move forward with a housing project for the island that had reportedly been in the works for several years.
“This is a major consequence to us … it would make a huge difference on Kaua‘i,” Chief Executive Officer Alan Johnson said.
The timing of the ceased project couldn’t have been worse, he added.
“So many people are getting into desperate times and often manage sad feelings with drugs or alcohol,” he said.
A cut in general funding from the government of some $800,000 for Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i has caused major setbacks in several arenas for the organization statewide, said Kathryn Xian, director of development and communication.
“The Kaua‘i office is plugging along,” Managing Attorney Emiko Meyers said.
Though there has been an increase in legal assistance for areas such as divorce and/or custody issues and temporary restraining orders, services have had to be cut and they have become “more selective in the cases we take,” she said.
Nonprofits are hit first in cutbacks, said Diane Zachary, president and CEO of Kaua‘i Planning and Action Alliance.
In a February survey conducted by KPAA, out of the 45 not-for-profit organizations which responded, 48 percent had endured decreases in funding, causing 67 full-time and 19 part-time employees to be laid off, a reduction in program services for 17 agencies, as well as a reduction in employee benefits for some 280 employees.
In addition, 26 organizations are anticipating more budget reductions or layoffs by the end of the year.
“We haven’t quite hit the bottom yet, at least that’s my own feeling based on input I’ve heard. … We respond slower than the Mainland and impacts are felt much later than what happens there,” Zachary said. “Since the survey’s results in February, a lot has happened and we have to keep that in mind.”
One way organizations have managed to pull through muddy economic waters is through collaboration.
Malama Pono, Young Women’s Christian Association and Kaua‘i Hospice have recently begun working on projects together and have found much success by doing so, according to D.Q. Jackson, executive director of Malama Pono Kaua‘i AIDS Project.
“This is the wave of the future,” said Renae Hamilton, executive director for the YWCA of Kaua‘i Family Violence Shelter. “It’s about how people can work together for the dollars.”
She said the proactive partnership has been “very helpful,” but the organization continues to wait on “pins and needles,” even with rising sexual assault and family violence services increasing.
“For some organizations, hard times provide opportunities, and we’re looking at every possible advantage out there,” Jackson said Thursday.
Rather than experience downsizing, Malama Pono has recently expanded their services without additional cost, he said.
“We’ve been able to do this, not through infusion of new money coming in, but rather through enhanced partnerships with other nonprofits, and especially with the Department of Health,” he said.
The alliances have come in handy during a time where more than a quarter of Malama Pono’s clients have either lost their jobs or have had hours significantly reduced, he said.
Another agency reportedly chugging along despite hard times is the United Way, which surpassed its donation goal in 2008.
“It’s been an interesting time — challenging certainly,” said Executive Director Scott Giarman, adding that his organization has received funding cuts.
“Social service agencies are stretched out way too thin right now,” he said, but added that the generous spirit of kama‘aina continues to keep them afloat.
The good thing is that people on Kaua‘i are very generous and we’ve all been through tough times together, Williamson said.
“Everybody knows somebody that’s having a hard time,” Lenthall said. “That’s the beauty of Kaua‘i, nobody’s going to let their neighbor’s kid starve. Not here, not ever.”
Individuals are encouraged to help nonprofits which they have an affinity for, in whatever way they can, whether it be their time, money or skills, Zachary said.
“We’re an ‘ohana here and we need to think about how we can help each other,” she said.
For more information, visit www.cancer.org, www.hinamauka.org, www.kauaiunitedway.org, www.legalaidhawaii.org, www.malama-pono.org, www.kauaihospice.org, www.ywcakauai.org, www.kauaifoodbank.org or www.kauainetwork.org.
