CONTACT:    Nicole Forelli, Managing Attorney

PHONE:         244-3731

E-MAIL:         niforel@lashaw.org

May 16, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii – Maui Receives $87,500

to Aid Homeless & Victims of Domestic Violence

The Maui County office of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii was recently awarded a total of $87,500 to support its work with the homeless and victims of domestic violence.  The County of Maui awarded $80,000, over two years, to fund Holistic Legal Services for Maui County’s Most Vulnerable: the Homeless and Victims of Domestic Violence, while the Baldwin Foundation is providing $7,500 to help fund Holistic Legal Services for the Homeless on Maui.

With increasing rent, unforeseen illness, abusive households, substance abuse and discrimination, the homeless population in Maui County has grown significantly in recent months. Further, the recent withdrawal of the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline from Maui has left domestic violence victims with limited access to legal assistance.  These grants will help address these critical issues facing Maui County residents.

Notes Legal Aid – Maui Managing Attorney Nicole Forelli, “By providing civil legal services with a holistic focus, this program will help homeless individuals and families, and domestic violence victims, obtain and maintain a more secure lifestyle in which the basic necessities of life are met.” The holistic approach will focus on four major areas: acquisition or maintenance of a steady source of income, obtaining and/or maintaining shelter, ensuring personal safety, and improving personal and/or family relationships.

To deliver these services, the staff of the Maui Legal Aid office will conduct frequent outreach and education to the areas in the community inhabited by the homeless population—including the Kahului breakwater; areas in Waihe’e and Kihei; and to areas frequented by the homeless population such as homeless shelters, churches, and other community organizations. Legal Aid staff will work closely with social service agencies that provide services to domestic violence victims. Individualized services will then be provided to those clients identified as needing legal assistance.

Legal Aid will use its Client Services Report database to monitor the clients served and will perform regular follow-up with clients at three and six month intervals, depending on the type of representation involved and the length of case completion. The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii is the oldest and largest non-profit law firm in Hawaii. Established in 1950, Legal Aid has nine offices throughout the state, and over 60 attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff dedicated to achieving Legal Aid's vision of "Building a Just Society." Legal Aid responds to almost 20,000 individuals a year, and an estimated 10,000 of those receive legal services ranging from advice and counsel to full representation.  Our mission is to achieve fairness and justice for Hawaii's people through quality representation, advocacy, community partnerships, education and outreach. 

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