Hawaii Cuts $5.4M From Programs to Help Welfare Recipients

HONOLULU – Budget cuts are forcing the state to eliminate programs that help welfare recipients get jobs.

Department of Human Services spokeswoman Kayla Rosenfeld said Thursday the state spends $5.4 million on those programs each year. The programs will be ended at the end of next month.

The cuts affect about 580 people across the state.

The programs began in 2001 to help low-income working families get jobs.

The programs offered stipends to qualifying families who had finished receiving the maximum five years of welfare benefits. Other programs also provided funds to people who left welfare receiving benefits for two years.

They targeted families who received help under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families programs.