For nonprofits providing social services, government reimbursement can be a major source of funding. Whether it’s placing homeless people in shelters or providing health care to underserved communities, such nonprofits are often doing work under state or federal grants. As of 2019, federal grants alone put $482 million into Hawaii’s nonprofit sector. Neighbor Island nonprofits said a challenge has been that the federal government has been very slow to pay, just as they’ve become busier than ever. For example, Hope Services Hawaii on Hawaii Island doubled its workforce from 65 to 125 to meet new, increased needs for food distribution and homelessness due to the COVID-19 economy.