Catholic Parishes Revive “VIP” Program to Renovate Public Housing

MEDIA RELEASE
Saturday, August 6, 2011
 
WHO: Volunteers Instilling Pride – (VIP)
WHAT: Public Housing Renovation Workday
WHEN: Saturday, August 6 — 8:45am-12:45pm
WHERE: Wahiawa Terrace 331 Palm St. Wahiawa, HI 96786
and Kauhale Nani 310 N. Cane St., Wahiawa, HI 96786


Honolulu, Hawaii - Bishop Larry Silvaʼs 3-year plan to construct, renovate, convert and/or preserve 720 affordable housing units by the end of 2013 is in the works—and gaining grass roots support among Catholic parishes across the state.

Today, more than 60 volunteers are refurbishing vacant units in two public housing complexes in Wahiawa. The project will help about 40 low-income neighbors receive much needed affordable housing.

Members from St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Church in Mililani, Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Wahiawa, St. Michael Parish in Waialua, St. Peter & Paul Mission Church in Haleiwa and the Diocese of Honoluluʼs Young Adult Ministry are among the first wave of VIP participants this year to help the Hawaii Public Housing Authority refurbish vacant public housing units sitting in disrepair.

VIP is a grassroots initiative that helped renovate more than 200 public housing units on Oahu between 2007 and 2009. State Human Services Chair, Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, the Hawaii Public Housing Authority and several non-profit organizations played a critical role in creating the community-based initiative. 

The Office for Social Ministry and the Office for Affordable Housing recently helped revive the program in an effort to respond to Bishop Silvaʼs call for Hawaii Catholics to put their faith into action by giving of their time, talent and treasure to address homelessness and the crisis of affordable housing. 

Homeless Housing Ministry teams are being assembled in every vicariate to manage projects intended to increase/preserve the supply of affordable housing and/or increase access to jobs, food and shelter, clothing and work opportunities.

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For more information:

Link to: www.officeforsocialministry.org or Facebook/OSM
Or Contact: Kent Anderson - phone:(808) 203-­6718, cell:(808)753-‐3069, email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)