HOPE Services Hawaii partners with Holiday Inn Express to provide isolation units for high-risk seniors experiencing homelessness, amid stay-at-home orders
HOPE Services Hawaii partners with Holiday Inn Express to provide isolation units for high-risk seniors experiencing homelessness, amid stay-at-home orders
|
Who: |
Kupuna who are houseless, and persons who are medically fragile and houseless |
|
What: |
HOPE Services Hawaii is providing round the clock staff to provide guests continued support during the COVID-19 stay at home and curfew orders. Holiday Inn Express will provide housekeeping services every 3 days, disinfect common areas, and prepare daily breakfast to go meals. Rotary Club of Kona, Rotary Club of Kona Sunrise, and Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii Island will also provide daily lunch supplies and hot dinner meals. West Hawaii Community Health Center will offer COVID-19 testing, primary care and behavioral health services on site, at their clinic across the street, and/or via telehealth as needed. |
|
Why: |
To protect the most vulnerable among the houseless population from increased risk of living unsheltered during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
|
When: |
The hotel started accepting guests referred by Hope Services on Thursday, 4/9/2020. |
|
Where: |
Holiday Inn Express in Kailua-Kona |
|
How: |
People experiencing homelessness must register with HOPE Services Hawaii. To register, call 935-3050 or email info@hopeserviceshawaii.org. You may also make a referral if you know someone who is currently houseless. Please do not visit the hotel; you will be instructed to register with HOPE first. |
|
Media Contact: |
Kristen Alice, HOPE Services Hawaii. 808-938-7239. kalice@hopeserviceshawaii.org |
HOPE Services began moving kupuna into the Holiday Inn Express on Thursday, April 9 to give dozens of houseless Hawaiʻi Island residents private rooms to shelter in place during the pandemic. The hotel guests were referred by Hope Services, with priority given to those who are at high risk of suffering serious complications from COVID-19, including kupuna and immunocompromised individuals.
The partnership comes amid the state’s stay-at-home order, which requires residents not to leave their homes, unless they are performing certain essential activities. Unfortunately, not everyone has a place to call home.
According to Bridging the Gap, a network of homeless service providers across the neighbor islands, 1,324 people on Hawaiʻi Island received homeless services last year. At least 7% of those were kupuna.
While becoming houseless puts all people at an elevated risk for a host of health problems, for some it can be deadly.
“CDC guidelines recommend that we all shelter in place, but not everyone has that luxury,” says HOPE Services CEO Brandee Menino. “We all have a role to play–from nonprofits, to businesses, to the county. It’s our responsibility as citizens to follow guidance from the infectious disease experts to make sure we protect the most vulnerable members of our ʻohana.”
The partnership comes on the tail of the county’s decision to defy CDC guidance by sweeping a homeless encampment in Hilo on Tuesday. “My team is working around the clock to keep everyone safe, Menino continued. “Not just people experiencing homelessness, but our entire community. When they stay healthy, we all stay healthy.”
HOPE Services Hawaii staff is partnering alongside Holiday Inn Express staff 24/7. Hotel personnel are providing in-room housekeeping services every 3 days, as well as disinfecting common areas, and preparing daily to-go breakfasts. HOPE Services team members are in essence, an extension of the hotel staff on site, to provide guests the support they need throughout their stay.
In order to qualify for this program, people experiencing homelessness must first register with HOPE Services. To register, call 935-3050 or email info@hopeserviceshawaii.org. You may also make a referral if you know someone who is currently homeless. HOPE asks that interested parties do not visit the hotel, as no visitors will be allowed in the building.
We are gratefully accepting hand sanitizers, face masks and gloves for our houseless community and staff. Please call Joycelyn Cabal at (808) 217-2830 or by email at volunteer@hopeserviceshawaii.org to make a donation, or visit hopeserviceshawaii.org to make a financial contribution.
###
About HOPE Services Hawaiʻi
HOPE Services Hawai’i is an affiliate non-profit organization of the Roman Catholic Church, providing housing-focused services including outreach, emergency shelter and affordable housing with the intention of moving people into housing as quickly as possible and connecting them with the support that they need to stay housed forever. If you or someone you know has been evicted or is experiencing homelessness, call the HOPE help line at 808-935-3050.
