Schatz: More Than $5 Million Headed To Hawai‘i To Support Seniors And People With Disabilities During Pandemic

HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i will receive $5,058,045 in new federal funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support programs for seniors and people with disabilities. The grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide federal funding for programs that offer home-delivered meals, care services in the home, services for people with disabilities, and respite care and other support to families and caregivers.

“During a public health emergency, no one should go hungry or be without the care and resources they need,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new funding will help us ensure that older adults and people with disabilities in our communities are healthy and fed.”

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to slow its transmission, service providers that typically provide these critical services to seniors and people with disabilities are facing increased costs or have closed. Social distancing requirements have also made it difficult for families to assist loved ones who live alone. This federal support helps fund important services for these communities, who are often at higher risk of infection from the disease.

Information on support and services for people with disabilities is available at the Hawai‘i Aging and Disability Resource Center at https://www.hawaiiadrc.org/, and information on Centers for Independent Living is available at https://www.ilru.org/projects/cil-net/cil-center-and-association-directory-results/HI.  

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