STAR-ADVERTISER / 2015
An old MUNI bus was converted into a mobile shower and toilet for San Francisco’s homeless population.
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The city is rolling with a promising plan tailored to provide homeless people on Oahu with hygienic dignity and opportunity to connect with services that could lead to housing.
Borrowing an idea from the streets of San Francisco, Honolulu Hale is now seeking proposals from nonprofits interested in retrofitting two retired 40-foot city buses with restrooms — complete with sinks, showers and toilets. The selected group will get $200,000 for the bus makeover and another $200,000 to cover operating funds for a year.
Right now, the city’s only public hygiene center, at Pauahi Hale housing project in Chinatown, sees a steady flow of foot traffic. The mobile center, which has proved to be a worthwhile sanitary service in California, is slated to hit the streets here four months after a contract is in place.
East-West Center lives for another day
All the beneficiaries of Uncle Sam’s bounty — the East-West Center among them — have to be thrilled with their reprieve from federal funding cuts. In addition to the EWC, there are various medical studies, Native Hawaiian programs and environmental projects that now will get the funds they need. The agreement ends fears about how the Trump administration’s proposed domestic spending cuts would play out.
The GOP Congress needed to avoid a government shutdown, so a spending deal with Democrats could be struck. But next time? It’s time to breathe a sigh of relief — but not exhale.