30+ community groups urge Governor Ige and leaders to make necessary changes to assist working families impacted by COVID-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ryan Catalani
[email protected]
(808) 531-5502 ext. 4

HONOLULU, March 15, 2020 — 29 local organizations are urging Governor Ige and legislative leaders to take immediate action to support working families across the state now and in the future in light of COVID-19. (The full letter is attached.)

As the Governor, Senate, and House signed onto a joint package to assist working families or ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) households, the Working Families Coalition asks they continue their support and make the necessary changes to programs to protect our families.

On behalf of the Working Families Coalition, Deborah Zysman, Executive Director of Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network, said:

“We cannot ask families to stay home while sick without compensation. We cannot ask our families to continue to work when their children do not have a safe place to go. We must be committed to ensuring all of our communities our protected and that their health and safety are not compromised, and we must ensure they have the resources to economically survive.”

Deborah Zysman, Executive Director of Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network, is available for media interviews. 

Download the letter at https://www.workingfamilieshawaii.org/covid19. The 30+ signatory organizations are:

ACLU of Hawai‘i

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawai‘i Section

Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i

Blueprint for Change

Breastfeeding Hawai’i

Common Cause Hawai‘i

Community Alliance on Prisons

Democratic Party Hawai‘i Education Caucus

Early Childhood Action Strategy

Faith Action for Community Equity

Family Hui Hawai‘i 

Family Promise of Hawaiʻi

The Food Basket Inc. Hawai’i Island Food Bank

Hawai’i Afterschool Alliance

Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice

Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network

Hawai'i Foodbank

Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center

Hawai'i Maternal and Infant Health Collaborative

Hawai‘i Public Health Institute

Hawai‘i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women

Hawaiʻi State Democratic Women’s Caucus

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition Hawai‘i

IMUA Alliance

Lanakila Pacific

Maui Food Bank

Midwives Alliance of Hawai’i

National Association of Social Workers, Hawai‘i Chapter

Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawai‘i

Pono Hawai‘i Initiative

Robert Pantell, MD

Save Medicaid Hawaiʻi

Shay Chan Hodges, Lean on And Lead

UNITE HERE Local 5

Women's Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i

Young Progressives Demanding Action

YWCA of O'ahu

Downloads: Hawaiʻi Working Families Coalition logo, COVID-19 graphic.

The Hawaiʻi Working Families Coalition is a diversified group of nonprofit organizations, academia, unions and community advocates fighting for Hawaii's families through policy, advocacy, and education. For more information, visit workingfamilieshawaii.org.

Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network is a nonprofit creating a unified voice for Hawaiʻi’s children. Its grassroots movement strives to ensure that all keiki are safe, healthy, and ready to learn. For more information, visit hawaii-can.org.