# Mobile Homeless Shelters The State of Hawaii is Turning Retired City Buses into Working Shelters By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2015-06-17 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mobile-homeless-shelters References: [boredpanda](http://www.boredpanda.com/homeless-shelter-bus-hawaii/) & [group70int](http://www.group70int.com) Hawaii is putting its old city buses to good use by turning them into [mobile homeless shelters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allspace-1). While the state is often criticized for having notoriously strict laws regarding its homeless citizens, the new shelters will offer a more sustainable means of accommodating Hawaii's transient population. Designed by the architecture firm '[Group 70 International](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coop-sustainable-packaging),' the mobile shelters will be made from decommissioned LIFT buses. Each bus will have a distinct design and specific purpose. For example, some buses will act as [designated sleeping areas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-makeshift-traveler-backpack) and others will operate as mobile bathrooms. While the task of overhauling old city buses may seem monumental, the project has already received an outpouring of community support. Through generous donations and the help of numerous volunteers, the buses will likely be finished some time before the end of the year. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.6/10 - Popularity: 68% | Activity: 62% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Mobile Homeless Shelters:** Creating mobile shelters using retired city buses offers a more sustainable means of providing accommodation. - **Architectural Transformations:** The innovative redesign of decommissioned buses into mobile shelters presents opportunities for architectural firms to repurpose other structures. - **Community Support Initiatives:** The outpouring of community support for this project showcases the potential for collaborative efforts to address homelessness in other regions. ### Who This Affects Most - **Architecture:** The architectural industry can explore opportunities to repurpose existing structures into innovative solutions for social challenges. - **Transportation:** The transportation industry can explore the potential of repurposing retired vehicles into useful and sustainable applications. - **Social Services:** Social service organizations can take inspiration from this project to develop innovative approaches to support homeless populations in their communities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Off-Grid Mobile Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/offgrid-mobile-home.md) - [Compact Fully-Functioning Camp Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/busbox.md) - [Recycled-Steel Bus Stations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amazon-bus-station.md) - [Recycled Material Bus Seats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/isle-project.md) - [Recycled Material Mobile Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contihome.md) - [Multifunctional Transport Buses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bubblic-public.md) - [Semi-Amphibious Bus Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/estuary-hopper.md) - [Affordable Tiny Home Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oshawa-micro-housing-pilot.md) - [Homeless Support Backpacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-makeshift-traveler-backpack.md)