Welcome
Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) law firm created to advocate on behalf of low income individuals and families in Hawai‘i on civil legal issues of statewide importance and to complement the assistance provided by existing legal services providers in the state. Please explore our website to learn more about our work and accomplishments.
2015 Legislative Session
The 2015 session is here and Hawai‘i Appleseed is supporting a number of bills related to fairer taxes, affordable housing and homelessness, expanding access to drivers' licenses, and others. Sign up for our tax equity action alerts to get involved.
It has been an extraordinary year for the work of Hawai‘i Appleseed! See some of the highlights in our 2014 Year In Review. Please consider making a donation to help us continue this success in 2015.
Appleseed releases new report on Hawai‘i's affordable housing crisis
Appleseed’s July 2014 report, “Hawai‘i’s Affordable Housing Crisis: The High Cost of Our Affordable Housing Shortfall,” details the severity of Hawai‘i’s housing shortage and the financial strain it places on our working families, compiling the facts and figures that illustrate the dire housing situation facing Hawai‘i. Click here to learn more.
Hawai‘i Appleseed releases report on SNAP and EITC
Hawai‘i Appleseed recently issued a report titled “Helping Make Ends Meet: Increasing SNAP and EITC Participation Among Eligible Households in Hawai‘i” that examines the severe underutilization of these two fully federally-funded programs in Hawai‘i, SNAP and EITC, and recommends new opportunities to build upon current outreach efforts and significantly increase participation in our state. Click here to view the report.
Hawai‘i Appleseed releases new report on ADUs
Appleseed’s April 2014 policy brief, "Accessory Dwelling Units: Expanding Affordable Housing Options in Hawai‘i" explores the broader use of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Hawai‘i as an option for creating more affordable housing. Click here to read more.
Foster Care Payments
On December 3, 2013, a class action lawsuit was filed against the Hawai‘i Department of Human Services for violating federal law by failing to pay foster parents enough to adequately care for the foster children in their homes. Longtime foster parent Raynette Nalani Ah Chong filed the suit on behalf of more than 1000 foster parents in the state who have been short-changed because the state has failed to increase the payments since 1990. The federal Child Welfare Act requires that reimbursements cover the expenses of children in foster care, but the $529 per month payment — set by the state nearly a quarter century ago — does not come close. Had the payment been adjusted for inflation, it would be over $950. Read more
Appleseed releases two new reports
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In November 2013, Hawai‘i Appleseed released two reports: "Reimagining Housing in Hawai‘i" detailing successful affordable housing models like microunits, ohana housing, modular housing, among others and "Creating a Fairer State Tax System and Economy for All Families," outlining our 5 policy strategies we aim to pursue in the 2014 legislative session. Click here to read more.
Driver's License Discrimination
Hawai‘i Appleseed, along with pro bono partners Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing, filed a federal court class action lawsuit on Sept. 6, 2013 against the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation. Plaintiffs Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE), a faith-based grassroots community advocacy non-profit, and two Hawai‘i residents whose names are being concealed to prevent potential retaliation, allege that HDOT is discriminating against Hawai‘i residents of various ethnic and national origins by failing to allow translation or interpretation of the written driver’s exam necessary to obtain a driver’s license. Read more
