At 81 years old, Mi-ja never imagined she would have to start over.
When her husband passed away unexpectedly, she not only lost her lifelong partner, she lost the person who had managed every aspect of their household finances. With limited English proficiency, speaking only Korean, Mi-ja suddenly found herself trying to navigate housing, healthcare, and government benefits on her own.
She quickly discovered that she could no longer afford to remain in her home.
Although she found another apartment, the rent was nearly impossible to sustain. Living on a fixed income of just $1,300 per month, she was paying $960 in rent, leaving little for food, medical care, and other daily necessities.
Like many older adults, Mi-ja was grieving while also facing financial uncertainty, language barriers, and the overwhelming challenge of navigating complex systems alone.
A Growing Challenge for Hawaiʻi's Kūpuna
Mi-ja’s experience reflects a growing reality across Hawaiʻi. Nearly 35% of households headed by someone age 65 or older spend more than 30% of their income on housing, making them housing cost-burdened. For seniors living on fixed incomes, the loss of a spouse, rising housing costs, or an unexpected life event can quickly threaten their independence and financial security.
As Hawaiʻi’s population ages, more kūpuna are finding themselves in situations where they need help navigating housing, public benefits, healthcare, and other essential services.
Finding Help at Lanakila
Mi-ja initially visited Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi’s Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center with a simple goal: to learn how to use her late husband’s cell phone.
During her visit, she discovered the Center’s Case Management services and a team ready to help.
Her case managers took the time to understand her circumstances and explore community resources that could ease her financial burden. They helped her apply for more affordable housing and guided her through applications for assistance.
Soon afterward, the Rent Supplement Program opened for new applicants. With help from her case managers, Mi-ja applied and was approved for a $500 monthly rent subsidy, significantly reducing her housing expenses and helping her maintain stable housing.
The support continued beyond housing.
Case managers helped Mi-ja apply for Medicaid, maintain her Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and complete the renewals needed to keep her assistance active. They also help her order $125 in monthly over-the-counter health and wellness items available through her Medicare and Medicaid plan.
Each service helps stretch her limited income and makes managing everyday needs a little easier.
A Season to Be Thankful
As we enter the season of Thanksgiving, Mi-ja’s story reminds us how much a helping hand can mean when someone is facing life’s unexpected challenges.
For many kūpuna, maintaining independence is not simply about having a place to live. It means having access to nutritious food, healthcare, financial assistance, and someone who can help navigate complicated systems when doing so alone feels overwhelming.
In 2025, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi provided Aging Support Services to 7,524 kūpuna across Hawaiʻi. Behind every number is an individual with unique needs, challenges, and hopes for the future.
Through the generosity of donors, supporters, and community partners, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi can continue providing compassionate assistance to older adults like Mi-ja. Sometimes, that assistance begins with something as simple as learning how to use a cell phone and leads to something much greater: the stability and reassurance of knowing someone is there to help.
This Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve Hawaiʻi’s kūpuna and for everyone who makes this work possible.
Your support helps ensure that no one has to face life’s challenges alone.
