PHOCUSED

Over the past two legislative sessions, coalitions that formed around specific substantive issues have met with success, such as the increase in the minimum wage and increases in funding for affordable housing and homeless efforts. Many of these successes have been the direct result of diverse, broad-based coalitions 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. The 2015 Social Advocacy Forum is a follow up to the September event, and will be an opportunity for coalitions to share their legislative priorities with others.

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.