Bridge to Hope is a successful example of cross-campus and university/community collaboration created to help low-income families increase educational opportunity and move toward economic self-sufficiency.
Abbreviations
Timeline Highlights
184
FTW participants in the university system in 1996.
294
FTW participants in the university system by October 2000.
$300K
Funding approved for FY 2003–04.
Timeline
1996 Policy Shift
Federal welfare reform changes assistance requirements
- The 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act is implemented.
- The law initiates a five-year lifetime limit and work requirements to receive cash assistance.
- FTW participants in the university system: 184.
January 1998 Organizing
Community and campus advocates begin building a response
- The first meeting of interested parties is held, eventually leading to Bridge to Hope.
- Participants include welfare-recipient students, social work advocates, Women’s Center staff, the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Commission on the Status of Women, and the Welfare Employment Rights Coalition.
- The group identifies a major barrier: FTW recipients are limited to one year of post-secondary education, and 12 credits count as only 12 hours toward the 32-hour weekly work requirement.
July 1998 Partnership
ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ and DHS officials discuss education and work requirements
- ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ and DHS officials meet to discuss shared concerns about work requirements and educational opportunities.
- ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ representatives include VP for Student Affairs Doris Ching and SEED Director Amy Agbayani.
- DHS representatives include Director Susan Chandler and Deputy Gary Kemp, who offer support for changes.
- The ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Commission on the Status of Women adopts welfare reform and the need for post-secondary education as a primary service project.
January–May 1999 Legislation
Early legislation is introduced
- Initial legislation for Bridge to Hope is introduced by Rep. Arakaki and Sen. Chun-Oakland, but it is unsuccessful.
- A coalition of community groups concerned with welfare issues and education begins to coalesce.
January–May 2000 Funding
Bridge to Hope gains policy support and pilot funding
- Advocates lobby for pilot funding to help students meet DHS work requirements through on-campus employment.
- DHS amends the FTW educational policy, reducing work requirements for full-time students to 20 hours per week instead of 32.
- Act 276 funds Bridge to Hope.
July 2000–01 Launch
Bridge to Hope is initiated
- Bridge to Hope officially begins.
- By October 2000, FTW participants in the university system increase to 294.
- BTH identifies 100 eligible students and employs 60.
- Advocates lobby for continued funding based on student success.
July 2001–02 Growth
The program expands coordination and student support
- BTH is funded at $150,000 for each fiscal year in the 2002–03 biennium.
- The program hires a part-time, system-wide coordinator for program and DHS coordination.
- BTH employs 97 students while assisting an additional 59 with other student needs.
July 2002–03 Capacity
Demand reaches the program’s available budget
- BTH employs 106 students while assisting an additional 50 with other student needs.
- The program budget is used to its maximum potential.
- Additional students cannot be assisted without additional funding.
- DHS opposes state general funding for the program and states that other funds can be used.
July 2003–04 Funding
One-year funding supports continued employment
- BTH receives $300,000 for FY 2003–04 only.
- The program is employing approximately 100 students recruited through January 2004.
- Recruitment remains ongoing.
July 2004–05 Sustainability
DHS and ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ establish a funding agreement
- This becomes the first year of the DHS/ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Memorandum of Agreement funding BTH with TANF funds.
- BTH is employing approximately 100 students.
- ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ agrees to fund TAONF (two-parent families) in BTH with ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ funds.
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Derek Galanto
2600 Campus Road | Honolulu, HI 96822 | QLCSS 211
(808) 956-9313 | bth@hawaii.edu
Last Modified: June 2026