June 12, 2018 (Island News, KITV4): Project Vision Hawaii has deployed HiEHiE, its Oahu-based mobile hygiene trailer, to Hawaii Island for 30-days to support 20 short-term transitional micro-housing units in Pahoa.
HiEHiE was shipped by Young Brothers as an in-kind donation; it arrived to Hawaii Island on Tuesday, June 12.
HiEHiE contains three private bathroom stalls, each complete with shower and toilet; one stall is ADA accessible and includes a diaper changing table.
The hygiene trailer debuted February 2018 to provide hot showers and resources to people experiencing homelessness on Oahu.
“Project Vision is in the business of deploying health and human services statewide, so when asked to be part of the solution and help the Puna community, we said yes,” said Annie Valentin, Executive Director of PVH.
The Puna micro-units managed by HOPE Services Hawaii are not equipped with plumbing, making the HiEHiE hygiene trailer a critical component to the transitional housing effort.
While HiEHiE is in Puna, Pacific Shipyards International will deploy its mobile shower unit so Project Vision can continue service on O‘ahu.
The 30 days also gives Project Vision, and its community partner Puuhonua o Puna Info & Supply Hub, time to raise $100,000 for two hygiene units to support ongoing disaster relief efforts.
Identified trailers include three-stall combo shower-restroom at $30,000 each; six-months of operations (transportation, utilization, maintenance) is estimated to cost $40,000.
Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA) has committed $20,000 towards this effort, with $5,000 going to the 30-day operation of HiEHiE on Hawaii Island, and the remainder to support operations of one of the hygiene units being purchased for disaster relief.
“On behalf of the Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation’s board of directors, we are pleased to support Project Vision in its efforts to help the people of Puna who have been displaced and negatively impacted by the ongoing volcanic eruptions.
We commend Project Vision and others who have come up with initiatives to help with what will be a long and arduous road to recovery,” said Mufi Hannemann, President and CEO of HLTA.
Community can donate at www.GoFundMe.com/showers-for-puna, or contact the groups at annie@projectvisionhawaii.org and puuhonuaopuna@gmail.com to discuss larger donations.
Project Vision operates four mobile vision and health screening medical units across the state in an effort to increase access to healthcare. It’s Hawaii Island unit will be used as an office space at the micro-housing site, and provide a suite of resources for housing, mental health and medical services.
Read this article on Island News KITV4 here.