Community Outreach
Working together as a community
Aloha kākou,
With the recent new records of positive COVID-19 cases being reported across the State, I wanted to inform all of our HPHA ʻohana and implore you all to continue to take COVID-19 as a serious threat to our public housing community, and that we all need to continue to do our part and take personal responsibility in our interactions with each other. We must continue to maintain physical distancing, practice good hygiene by washing your hands, wearing your facial coverings, staying home if you are feeling ill, and avoiding large gatherings.
We must work together as a community if we are going to be successful in the fight against COVID-19. Please take care of yourself, take care of each other, and most importantly, take care of our community.
These numbers have been confirmed by DOH, but we suspect that there could be more.
Mālama pono,
Hakim Ouansafi
Executive Director, Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority
Steps we are taking for COVID-19
COVID-19 PROGRAM OUTREACH
The HPHA continues to take action to keep its public housing tenants safe. Although there has been a recent increase in the number of public housing tenants who tested positive, it is important to note that there are only 63 households with active cases in the whole HPHA inventory.
HPHA has mailed and hand delivered several informational flyers, including translated documents to all households.
HPHA’s staff packed and distributed tens of thousands of staff-made reusable cloth and commercial surgical face coverings to all HPHA public housing participants statewide, many of whom are elderly, disabled and children.
HPHA distributed cleaning supplies to staff and residents, when a family tests positive.
Distributed hand sanitizer to hundreds of elderly households.
Coordinated the delivery of thousands of healthy meals to our elderly and disabled public housing tenants.
COMMUNITY ALERTS
When the HPHA is informed of a confirmed active case of COVID-19, every household at the property is immediately informed.
HPHA immediately contacts the State Department of Health
(DOH). They are the lead for the State of Hawaii, and they would provide information on how best to ensure quarantine, how to inform the community, and whether other family members should be handled in a certain way.
HPHA immediately informs the staff and the residents through flyers, phone calls, emails, or whatever means necessary. All households are provided with a COVID notice alerting them to active case(s) on the property and given an additional supply of face masks.
All AMP staff have ample supply of PPE and hand sanitizers or soap to practice good hygiene. Staff who are eligible, would be continued to be on approved work from home plans.
Maintenance staff are instructed not to enter the subject unit, and KN95 masks are made available to all staff.
HPHA also has alternate units available if the State DOH or CDC recommend that the family be quarantined in another location.
Only State certified companies would be used to perform cleaning of the unit(s). The unit would be sanitized at no cost to the family. All offices would receive a deep cleaning.
COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
The HPHA has been working, and will continue to work, hand-in-hand with the Department of Health Public Health Nurses and the Hawaii National Guard with COVID-19 outreach events at our larger public housing properties.
There have been COVID-19 outreach events at our larger family public housing properties in Palolo, Kalihi, Wahiawa and the Leeward Coast where teams of nurses, doctors, guard members and interpreters canvass the properties and talk to residents and hand out flyers in English and other translated languages to educate the community about CPVOD-19.
Mainly educational in nature, the teams teach families how they can stay safe and healthy. During the outreach, the teams will test anyone in the household that has flu-like symptoms.
Over 2,300 units have been visited during HPHA’s COVID-19 outreach events. Below is a list of public housing communities we have reached out to:
May 15, 2020
Kalihi Valley Homes
May 28, 2020
Palolo Valley Homes
June 9, 2020
Mayor Wright Homes
June 24, 2020
Kuhio Homes
Kuhio Park Terrace Low-Rises
July 9, 2020
Kauhale Nani
Wahiawa Terrace
July 20, 2020
Kamehameha
Kaahumanu
July 24, 2020
Nanakuli Homes
Maili I
Maili II
Kauiokalani
Waimaha Sunflower
VACCINATION CLINICS
Below is a list of COVID-19 vaccination clinics that took place that resulted in over 2,000 vaccinations being administered:
Pomaikai Homes – January 5, 2021
Hale Hookipa – January 14, 2021
Nani Olu – January 14, 2021
Hale Olaloa – January 26, 2021
Pahala – February 2, 2021
Hale Aloha O Puna – February 5, 2021
Hale Hauoli – February 5, 2021
Kalakaua Homes – March 15, 2021
Makua Alii – March 15, 2021
Paoakalani – March 15, 2021
Kamalu – March 18, 2021
Hoolulu – March 18, 2021
Laiola – March 20, 2021
Hale Nana Kai O Kea – March 21, 2021
Home Nani – March 21, 2021
Halia Hale – March 23, 2021
Pumehana – March 24, 2021
Kupuna Home O`Waialua – March 25, 2021
Kalanihuia – March 25, 2021
Punchbowl Homes – March 27, 2021
Makamae – March 27, 2021
Kapaa – April 10, 2021
Kekaha – April 10, 2021
Eleele – April 17, 2021
Port Allen – April 17, 2021
Hui Hanamaulu – April 17, 2021
Kalihi Valley Homes – April 20, 2021
Palolo Valley Homes – April 22, 2021
Puuwai Momi – April 23, 2021
Hale Hoolulu – April 24, 2021
Kalaheo – April 24, 2021
Mayor Wright Homes – April 27, 2021
Kuhio Park Terrace Low-Rise – April 29, 2021
Kuhio Homes – April 29, 2021
Waimaha Sunflower – May 2, 2021
Kamehameha Homes – May 4, 2021
Kaahumanu Homes – May 4, 2021
Wahiawa Terrace – May 7, 2021
Kauhale Nani – May 7, 2021
Kauiokalani – May 11, 2021
Koolau Village – May 12, 2021
Hookipa Kahaluu – May 12, 2021
Kaneohe Apartments – May 12, 2021
Booster Shots Administered
The HPHA encourages everyone to remember that our community is truly “Safer-at-Home” and that everyone who does not need to leave their home should stay at home. Please continue to practice social distancing and wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We are prepared to assist you
This is not a time to panic. HPHA is closely monitoring each of our properties across Hawai‘i and are prepared to assist you.
We are ready to help with testing, providing access to healthcare professionals, and have cleaning crews disinfecting our properties.
Emergency kits are available now
Protective masks, gloves, wipes, disinfectants, food services, and family care are lined up and ready to assist should someone in your home fall ill with COVID-19.
How we all handle this together is what makes the difference.