WAIMEA — The sign read “Closed,” but the door rattled and a face peered in the glass door, Monday, at Nana’s House in Waimea. Momi Machado, the program manager for Nana’s House, said Monday hours are curtailed until 2 p.m.
WAIMEA — The sign read “Closed,” but the door rattled and a face peered in the glass door, Monday, at Nana’s House in Waimea.
Momi Machado, the program manager for Nana’s House, said Monday hours are curtailed until 2 p.m.
“Are you going to have food distribution?” the voice asked, pleased with the affirmative reply. “I’ll be back.”
That was just one example of the walk-ins visiting the facility in Waimea which has had to make adjustments due to the cancellation of funds from the state Department of Human Services in October.
The impact of the loss of $5.8 million in Title 4B federal funds funneled through the DHS is being felt. Nana’s House and Hale Ho‘omalu in Kapa‘a have adjusted staff and operating hours. Both community houses operate under the Child and Family Services umbrella.
Nancy Golden, founder of Nana’s House, had retired but is back on as a case manager. One of the reasons for the funds being cut, she said, is because the two “houses” have duplication of services of other agencies.
“We may have some duplication, but we are family support centers,” Golden said. “There are a lot of different programs which come under the roof of the ‘houses.’”
The full impact of the budget cutback won’t be felt until Dec. 31 when, Golden said, “I don’t even know what my title is.”
Dory Farias, program manager at Hale Ho‘omalu for nine years, said the same thing. “I’m the program manager until Dec. 31. After that, who knows what I’ll be.”
Farias said clients of the community houses can ask any question and the staff will direct them to resources.
“We take these people by the hand and introduce them to programs and resources they were unaware of,” Farias said. “The clients feel safe and comfortable and are not afraid to come in. If we don’t have the answers to their questions, we’ll research it — it might take a few weeks, but we find the answers.”
The popularity of the services afforded by the two community houses are demonstrated in the numbers of people they serve.
Based on figures from 2010, Nana’s House serves 288 parents and 228 children monthly from its food pantry program, which also takes care of 60 unduplicated individuals.
Hale Ho‘omalu serves an average of 120 families, 210 adults and 230 children from its food pantry each month.
Additionally, there are clothing needs for which Nana’s House distributed 1,540 pieces monthly and Hale Ho‘omalu took care of the Eastside with 1,250 adult and children pieces.
Nana’s House lists an average of 194 clients for information and referral with Hale Ho‘omalu showing 74 families who came in for the same services.
Currently, Nana’s House averages 20 case management files while Hale Ho‘omalu shows 24 families under case management.
Dennis Okihara of Obsessions Cafe said there are a lot of people going into Nana’s House.
“They (Nana’s House) don’t have money and there are more people going in,” Okihara said, noting he observes the flow of people when he works in the back of the Waimea restaurant. “With the tight economy, it doesn’t help because there are more people who need help.”
Joyce Spinder, program director for both Nana’s House and Hale Ho‘omalu, said the key of the family support centers is they are both located in the community where the people who need the help are.
“This program is a ‘one-stop-shop’ where the community can receive many different services under one roof,” Golden said. “Everyone is welcomed — adults, teens, children, families and friends. Some of the services provided include information and referral, case management, emergency food pantry, emergency clothes closet, parenting skills and budgeting classes, volunteer/intern training, and outreach activities to engage hard-to-reach families.”
Through the collaboration of the Rotary Club of Po‘ipu Beach, Nana’s House was able to have about 100 children enjoy a day at Waimea Theater, Saturday.
Golden said the Westside Ministers also provide a unique program where they provide emergency assistance for people who are having problems paying rent or utilities and do not qualify for other services.
‘We need help’
Dec. 31 is the cutoff date for Nana’s House and Hale Ho‘omalu.
“We’ve been making adjustments since October when the funds were cut,” Golden said. “What we need now are angels — 10 or 12 people who can infuse some cash into keeping the staff operating. With the funds from DHS gone, we need help, especially now during this economic recovery period when people need help.”
Golden estimates it will take about $150,000 to keep both houses operating.
“A lot of funds are available for programs,” she said. “But there are no funds for administrative, or staff, or operating costs. We can muddle through March 2012, but after that …”
When the deadline approaches, both program managers agreed that families who use the family support centers for food and clothing would no longer receive it and case management services, many of which are geared to families who do not qualify for other services, will end.
Operating hours will be cut back further making information sharing more difficult and several of the partnerships will end.
Golden said at Nana’s House, this means an additional half day when the facility will be closed and staff hours will be cut back even further.
“We’re going into ‘skinny’ plan,” Golden said. “But how much more can you pull in your belt when there is no more to pull?”
Farias said they won’t be able to provide the same level of service at Hale Ho‘omalu as well.
“It would be really horrendous if the houses have to close,” Golden, who served for 13 years before retiring and then returning to serve on a part-time basis, said. “The houses, Momi and Dory, have become an integral part of the community.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
