PHOCUSED

Over the past two legislative sessions, we have seen coalitions form around specific substantive issues, such as the increase in the minimum wage and increases in funding for affordable housing and homeless efforts. These coalitions have largely been successful in their efforts, with much of these successes being the direct result of a diverse, broad-based membership working together to support common interests and priorities. In September 2014, PHOCUSED, Hawaii Appleseed, and Catholic Charities convened an Advocacy Conference as a first step to better aligning diverse coalitions across Hawaii. This was followed up with a Social Advocacy Forum in January 2015. The 2015 Social Advocacy Day on March 11, 2015 will be a next step in our efforts to strengthen Hawaii's growing network of advocacy coalitions, and will provide an opportunity for these coalitions to meet with legislators in a coordinated way and share their voice at the State Capitol.

PHOCUSED staff have recently been interviewed by local media in Hawaii regarding issues impacting Hawaii's homeless individuals, and the impact of recent 'sit lie' legislation on this population. To read the full stories, click on the links below:

PHOCUSED (Protecting Hawaii's Ohana, Children, Under-Served, Elderly and Disabled) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to strengthening health and human services service policies and programs for the most vulnerable in Hawaii.

PHOCUSED cannot do our work alone. Volunteers and student interns provide critical support for our day-to-day operations.

Volunteer and intern opportunities not only benefit PHOCUSED, but also provide volunteers and students with on-the-ground work experience, an opportunity to further develop writing and critical thinking skills, and a deeper understanding of issues impacting vulnerable populations in Hawaii. PHOCUSED is currently accepting interns and practicum students from the following fields of study: Social Work, Public Administration, Political Science, and English.