This op-ed by CFS President & CEO, Amanda Pump, appeared in the January 4, 2026 Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

January is Poverty Awareness Month, a time to confront a reality often hidden in plain sight. In Hawaii, poverty does not always look like what we expect. It can look like a working parent struggling to afford school uniforms, a young father trying to secure reliable transportation to support his children, or a survivor rebuilding her life after domestic violence. These stories are not abstract. They are happening every day in our communities.

At Child & Family Service (CFS), we see how poverty shapes daily choices for families across generations, as well as the resilience and determination they bring with them. For more than 126 years, CFS has partnered with Hawaii’s families through culturally grounded, community-based programs that strengthen keiki, empower youth, support healing from trauma, honor kupuna, and support families working toward long-term stability and independence.

Last year, a mother came to us seeking help with school uniforms for her middle school child and guidance navigating the complex process of applying for Social Security benefits for her disabled child. These needs may seem small, but they can become overwhelming barriers. Through our Expanded Learning Program and voluntary case management services, she secured what her child needed to attend school with confidence and completed her benefits application. More importantly, she shared that she felt empowered to advocate for her family’s future rather than simply trying to get through the moment.

Another parent reached out when transportation became the barrier between her children and consistent school attendance while she searched for work. With coordinated support through our family strengthening services and the Expanded Learning Program, her children received bus passes and essential school supplies. Soon after, she secured part-time employment at a local clothing retailer and continues working toward full-time stability. Reliable transportation and basic necessities became the bridge between uncertainty and opportunity, reminding us that access, not effort, is often the difference.

For a young father of three, the path to stability also began with transportation. With support from a life coach through our youth and family services, he navigated the licensing process, earned his driver’s license, and secured reliable transportation. What might appear to be a simple milestone created meaningful change, expanding his ability to care for his children, access employment, and build a more stable future.

Our agency also serves survivors of domestic violence through emergency shelter, transitional housing, advocacy and counseling services. Many commit to budgeting plans, address housing arrears, requalify for rental assistance, and move from shelter into permanent housing. One woman shared that while the transition was challenging, having a safe place of her own gave her dignity, pride and hope.

These stories remind us that poverty is not a personal failure; it is a community challenge shaped by access, policy and investment. Families are doing the hard work. What they need is a system that meets them with opportunity rather than obstacles.

As we enter a new year, decisions about public funding and community investment will directly determine whether families can stay housed, children can stay in school, and survivors can rebuild with dignity. Sustained funding for programs with proven outcomes is essential, and cuts to services families rely on every day would reverse hard-won progress.

Poverty Awareness Month calls us not only to recognize need, but to act. When we invest in families, we invest in Hawaii’s future. Poverty is personal and so is our responsibility to address it.

The original article is available at: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/01/04/editorial/island-voices/column-poverty-is-personal-but-requires-all-to-help/ (subscription may be required)