Three nonprofit groups that rely on federal funding administered by the city worry their money could be delayed this year, affecting clients as soon as Monday.
City spokesman Andrew Pereira said city officials warned 10 nonprofit organizations a year ago that city funds likely would not be available this year to cover any temporary delays in the arrival of federal money that the city administers for their programs.
“In the past we had surplus funds that we could float, but that’s not the case this year,” he said. “A year ago we were thinking this would be a possibility, so we warned all the nonprofits. Seven organizations did prepare.”
But Lanakila Meals on Wheels is now planning for the possibility that it might have to stop serving its daily meal for senior citizens at seven “congregate dining centers” run by partner agencies and four additional dining centers run by Lanakila starting Monday.
“The federal government has allocated money through December; however, it takes time for the money to make its way to Hawaii from D.C.,” said Marian Tsuji, president and CEO of Lana-kila Meals on Wheels. “It always takes government time to transfer money from one level to the next. In the past there’s always been carry-over money.”
Pereira said he hopes the money will be available next week. “We expect them to be fully funded, and we’re hoping there’s no gap in funding that would force them to drop services,” he said.
The two other nonprofit organizations reportedly affected by the situation — Child &Family Service and Catholic Charities Hawaii — did not respond to requests for comment.
Susan Fernandez, acting director of the city’s Department of Community Services, said in a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that Child &Family Service is not being awarded a contract for caregiver access because it did not meet the minimum qualifications and opted out.
Fernandez said two of Catholic Charities’ three contracts with the city to help senior citizens were signed Thursday, “and we anticipate no break in service.” Bids on a third contract for services that Catholic Charities provides will likely go out within weeks.
Lanakila Pacific’s Lanakila Meals on Wheels contract to provide “congregate” or “group dining” “is currently in the process of being executed,” Fernandez wrote. “It is currently pending Lanakila Pacific’s signature. This too will likely be signed by the end of the week. By doing this, there is the possibility of no break in service.”
Project Dana, an interfaith volunteer program that helps “frail elderly” in all counties except Kauai, was among the seven organizations that began planning a year ago. The others are Hawaii Family Services, Alzheimer’s Association, Kokua Kalihi Valley, St. Francis Health Systems, Hawaii Meals on Wheels and the University of Hawaii — Elder Law Program, which is not taking any new cases, Pereira said.
Even though Project Dana officials had a year to prepare, it’s still been a challenge to raise money, said Rose Nakamura, administrator for Project Dana. She declined to say how much money Project Dana officials needed to generate on their own.
