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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (Amendment No. 4)*

                        Home Products International, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    437305105
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                 Marc D. Hauser
                        Equity Group Investments, L.L.C.
                       2 North Riverside Plaza, Suite 600
                             Chicago, Illinois 60606
                                 (312) 466-3281
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
               Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                October 22, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of This Statement)

If the filing person has previously  filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the  acquisition  that is the subject of this  Schedule  13D, and is filing this
schedule because of ss.  240.13d-1(e),  240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g),  check the
following box [_].


Note:  Schedules  filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule,  including all exhibits.  See ss. 240.13d-7(b) for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for  any  subsequent   amendment   containing   information  which  would  alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 or  otherwise  subject to the  liabilities  of that  section of the Act but
shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).


POTENTIAL PERSONS WHO ARE TO RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION  CONTAINED
IN THIS FORM ARE NOT  REQUIRED TO RESPOND  UNLESS THE FORM  DISPLAYS A CURRENTLY
VALID OMB CONTROL NUMBER.





CUSIP No. 43705105                   13D/A                    Page 2 of 12 Pages


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Name of Reporting Persons.
     I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

Samstock/SIT, L.L.C.  FEIN 36-6934126
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions) 
     (a) [_]
     (b) [x]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC Use Only

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   Source of Funds (See Instructions)

WC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.   Check If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d)
     or 2(e) [_]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.   Citizenship or Place of Organization

Delaware
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               7.   Sole Voting Power
  NUMBER OF                                          650,720
   SHARES      _________________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY   8.   Shared Voting Power
 OWNED BY                                            0
    EACH       _________________________________________________________________
  REPORTING    9.   Sole Dispositive Power
   PERSON                                            650,720
    WITH       _________________________________________________________________
               10.  Shared Dispositive Power
                                                     0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

650,720
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
     Instructions) [_]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)

8.3% (1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Calculated based upon 7,878,902 shares of Issuer's Common Stock outstanding
as of August 2, 2004, as reported in Issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the period ended June 26, 2004.





CUSIP No. 43705105                   13D/A                   Page 3 of 12 Pages


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Name of Reporting Persons.
     I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

Zell General Partnership, Inc.  FEIN 36-3716786
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions) 
     (a) [_]
     (b) [x]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC Use Only

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   Source of Funds (See Instructions)

WC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.   Check If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d)
     or 2(e) [_]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.   Citizenship or Place of Organization

Delaware
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               7.   Sole Voting Power
  NUMBER OF                                          13,275
   SHARES      _________________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY   8.   Shared Voting Power
 OWNED BY                                            0
    EACH       _________________________________________________________________
  REPORTING    9.   Sole Dispositive Power
   PERSON                                            13,275
    WITH       _________________________________________________________________
               10.  Shared Dispositive Power
                                                     0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

13,275
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
     Instructions) [_]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)

0.2% (1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Calculated based upon 7,878,902 shares of Issuer's Common Stock outstanding
as of August 2, 2004, as reported in Issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the period ended June 26, 2004.





CUSIP No. 43705105                   13D/A                   Page 4 of 12 Pages


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Name of Reporting Persons.
     I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

Storage Acquisition Company, L.L.C.  FEIN applied for
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) [_]
     (b) [x]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC Use Only

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   Source of Funds (See Instructions)

WC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.   Check If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d)
     or 2(e) [_]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.   Citizenship or Place of Organization

Delaware
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               7.   Sole Voting Power
  NUMBER OF                                          0
   SHARES      _________________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY   8.   Shared Voting Power
 OWNED BY                                            5
    EACH       _________________________________________________________________
  REPORTING    9.   Sole Dispositive Power
   PERSON                                            0
    WITH       _________________________________________________________________
               10.  Shared Dispositive Power
                                                     5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
     Instructions) [_]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)

Less than 0.1% (1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Calculated based upon 7,878,902 shares of Issuer's Common Stock outstanding
as of August 2, 2004, as reported in Issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the period ended June 26, 2004.





CUSIP No. 43705105                   13D/A                   Page 5 of 12 Pages


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Name of Reporting Persons.
     I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

EGI-Fund (02-04) Investors, L.L.C.  FEIN 40-0002819
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions) 
     (a) [_]
     (b) [x]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC Use Only

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   Source of Funds (See Instructions)

WC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.   Check If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d)
     or 2(e) [_]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.   Citizenship or Place of Organization

Delaware
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               7.   Sole Voting Power
  NUMBER OF                                          0
   SHARES      _________________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY   8.   Shared Voting Power
 OWNED BY                                            5
    EACH       _________________________________________________________________
  REPORTING    9.   Sole Dispositive Power
   PERSON                                            0
    WITH       _________________________________________________________________
               10.  Shared Dispositive Power
                                                     5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
     Instructions) [_]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)

Less than 0.1% (1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Calculated based upon 7,878,902 shares of Issuer's Common Stock outstanding
as of August 2, 2004, as reported in Issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the period ended June 26, 2004.





CUSIP No. 43705105                   13D/A                   Page 6 of 12 Pages


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Name of Reporting Persons.
     I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

Joseph Gantz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) [_]
     (b) [x]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC Use Only

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   Source of Funds (See Instructions)

PF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.   Check If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d)
     or 2(e) [_]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.   Citizenship or Place of Organization

United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               7.   Sole Voting Power
  NUMBER OF                                          1,530
   SHARES      _________________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY   8.   Shared Voting Power
 OWNED BY                                            0
    EACH       _________________________________________________________________
  REPORTING    9.   Sole Dispositive Power
   PERSON                                            1,530
    WITH       _________________________________________________________________
               10.  Shared Dispositive Power
                                                     0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

1,530
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
     Instructions) [_]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)

Less than 0.1% (1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Calculated based upon 7,878,902 shares of Issuer's Common Stock outstanding
as of August 2, 2004, as reported in Issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the period ended June 26, 2004.








CUSIP No. 43705105                   13D/A                  Page 7 of 12 Pages

This  amendment  amends the Schedule 13D dated  December 27, 2001 (as previously
amended from time to time, the "Schedule 13D") filed by Samstock/SIT,  L.L.C., a
Delaware  limited   liability   company   ("Samstock/SIT"),   and  Zell  General
Partnership,  Inc., an Illinois corporation ("ZGP"),  with respect to the common
stock,  $0.01 par value (the "Common  Stock"),  of Home Products  International,
Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  ("Issuer"),  which has its  principal  executive
offices at 4501 West 47th Street,  Chicago,  Illinois 60632. Storage Acquisition
Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("SAC"),  EGI-Fund (02-04)
Investors,  L.L.C., a Delaware  limited  liability  company ("Fund 02-04"),  and
Joseph Gantz, an individual  ("Gantz") are hereby added as Reporting  Persons to
this  Schedule  13D,  and Items 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the  Schedule 13D are hereby
amended as follows:

ITEM 2.  IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND

Items 2(a-c) are hereby amended and restated in their entirety as follows:

(a-c) This Schedule 13D is being filed by Samstock/SIT, ZGP, SAC, Fund 02-04 and
Gantz (collectively, the "Reporting Persons").

The  sole  member  of  Samstock/SIT  and  the  sole  shareholder  of  ZGP is Sam
Investment  Trust,  an Illinois  trust ("SIT")  formed for the benefit of Samuel
Zell and members of his family.  The sole trustee of SIT is Chai Trust  Company,
L.L.C., an Illinois limited liability company ("Chai Trust").

SAC is a Delaware limited liability  company to be funded by Fund 02-04,  Gantz,
Walnut  Investment  Partners,  L.P. and certain  other  investors.  The managing
member of SAC is Fund 02-04.  EGI-Managing Member (02-04),  L.L.C. is a Delaware
limited  liability  company  and the  managing  member of Fund 02-04  ("Managing
Member").  SZ  Investments,  L.L.C.  ("SZ  Investments")  is a Delaware  limited
liability  company and the managing member of Managing Member. SZ Investments is
indirectly  owned by various trusts  established  for the benefit of Samuel Zell
and his family. The trustee of each of those trusts is Chai Trust.

The officers  and members of the Board of Directors of Chai and their  principal
occupations are as follows:

- Bert Cohen is a  Director  of Chai  Trust.  Mr.  Cohen is also a  semi-retired
investor, whose residence is 5000-4A Estate Enighed, #65, St. John, VI 00830.

- Kellie Zell Harper is a Director of Chai Trust and also works as a homemaker.

- Donald J.  Liebentritt  is the  President  and a Director of Chai  Trust.  Mr.
Liebentritt is also the President of Equity Group Investments, L.L.C. ("EGI").

- Leah Zell Wanger is a Director of Chai Trust. Ms. Wagner is a private investor
whose business address is 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603.

- JoAnn  Zell  Gillis  is a  Director  of Chai  Trust.  Mrs.  Zell  Gillis  is a
physician.

- Matthew Zell is a Director of Chai Trust and an employee of EGI.

- Robert M. Levin is a Senior Trust  Officer of Chai Trust.  Mr. Levin is also a
partner in the law firm Levin & Schreder  Ltd.,  whose  business  address is 120
North LaSalle Street, Suite 3800, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

- James Bunegar is Vice  President,  Chief  Financial  Officer,  Assistant Trust
Officer and  Treasurer of Chai Trust.  Mr.  Bunegar is also the Vice  President,
Taxes of EGI.

The executive  officers of each of  Samstock/SIT,  ZGP and Fund 02-04, and their
principal occupations, are as follows:

-Samuel Zell - President; Chairman of the Board of Directors of EGI
-William Pate - Vice President; Managing Director of EGI
-Donald J. Liebentritt - Vice President; President of EGI
-Philip Tinkler - Treasurer; Vice President and Treasurer of EGI






CUSIP No. 43705105                   13D/A                  Page 8 of 12 Pages

The executive officers of SAC, and the principal occupations, are as follows:

-Samuel Zell - President; Chairman of the Board of Directors of EGI
-William Pate - Vice President; Managing Director of EGI
-Donald J. Liebentritt - Vice President; President of EGI
-Ellen Havdala - Vice President; Managing Director of EGI
-Philip Tinkler - Treasurer; Vice President and Treasurer of EGI

The principal business of each of Samstock/SIT,  ZGP, Fund 02-04, SAC, EGI, SIT,
Managing  Member,  and SZ Investments is investments.  Chai is a regulated trust
company and manages trusts.  The business address of each of Samstock/SIT,  ZGP,
Fund 02-04, SAC, EGI, SIT, Managing Member,  Chai and SZ Investments and, unless
otherwise  specified,  the executive  officers and directors named above, is Two
North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

Gantz is an individual  whose business  address is 100 Park Avenue,  Suite 2100,
New York, New York 10017.  He is an attorney and a general partner of The Walnut
Group, a private investment firm.

ITEM 3.  Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

iTEM 3 is hereby amended by adding the following thereto:

On October 21,  2004,  ZGP  transferred  five (5) shares of Common  Stock of the
Issuer  to  Fund  02-04  in  a  privately-negotiated  transaction.   Immediately
subsequent thereto,  Fund 02-04 contributed such five (5) shares of Common Stock
to SAC as a capital contribution.

Gantz acquired all 1,530 shares of Common Stock owned by him in connection  with
his service as a member of the Board of Directors of the Issuer between 1996 and
1999.

ITEM 4.  PURPOSE OF THE TRANSACTION

Item 4 is hereby amended by adding the following thereto:

On October 21, 2004, the Special Committee of the Board of Directors advised the
Reporting Persons that the Special Committee has determined that the proposal by
SAC, a company to be funded by Fund 02-04,  Gantz,  Walnut Investment  Partners,
L.P., and others  (collectively,  the "SAC  Investors"),  for the acquisition of
100% of the  Issuer's  outstanding  Common  Stock by  means  of a tender  offer,
subject to a minimum  tender of a majority of the  outstanding  shares of Common
Stock  (other  than  shares  held  by the SAC  Investors)  and  other  customary
conditions,  for $2.25 per share in cash, is a "Superior  Company  Proposal" for
purposes of the Existing  Agreement.  In accordance with the Existing Agreement,
the Special Committee notified JRT Acquisition, Inc. of such determination.

If the tender offer is consummated and other conditions are satisfied,  it would
be followed by a reverse  stock split of the Issuer's  outstanding  common stock
pursuant to an amendment to the Issuer's Certificate of Incorporation that would
have the effect of  reducing  the number of  stockholders  of the Issuer to one,
namely SAC. In such reverse stock split, the number of outstanding  shares would
be combined into a smaller  number of shares such that the shares  formerly held
by each  stockholder of the Issuer,  other than SAC, would represent less than a
whole share, and such stockholders would receive, in lieu of a fractional share,
a cash payment equal to (x) the total number of shares held by such  stockholder
immediately prior to the stock split multiplied by (y) $2.25 in cash.







CUSIP No. 43705105                   13D/A                  Page 9 of 12 Pages

ITEM 5.  INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

Items 5(a-c) are hereby amended and restated in their entirety as follows:

(a) and (b) To the best knowledge of each of the Reporting  Persons,  there were
7,878,902  shares of Issuer's Common Stock  outstanding as of August 2, 2004, as
reported in Issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 26,
2004.

Samstock/SIT  currently has the sole power to vote or to direct the vote of, and
the sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of, the 650,720 shares of
Common Stock held by it. ZGP  currently  has the sole power to vote or to direct
the vote of, and the sole power to dispose or to direct the  disposition of, the
13,275  shares of Common  Stock held by it.  SAC and Fund  02-04 each  currently
share the power to vote or to direct the vote of, and the power to dispose or to
direct  the  disposition  of, the 5 shares of Common  Stock held by SAC.  Joseph
Gantz  currently  has the sole  power to vote or to direct  the vote of, and the
sole  power to  dispose or to direct  the  disposition  of, the 1,530  shares of
Common  Stock held by him.

Based upon the foregoing,  the 665,530 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned
by the Reporting  Persons  represents 8.4% of the issued and outstanding  Common
Stock.

(c) Except as set forth above in Items 3 and 4, during the last 60 days no other
transactions  in Issuer's  Common Stock or were effected by any of the reporting
persons.

ITEM 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO
SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

Item 6 is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Except  for the  Joint  Filing  Agreement  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  1, the
Investors' proposal attached hereto as Exhibit 2, the Confidentiality  Agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit 3, the Revised Proposal attached hereto as Exhibit 4,
the Amended and Restated Joint Filing  Agreement  attached  hereto as Exhibit 5,
and the Power of Attorney  attached  hereto as Exhibit 6, no  Reporting  Person,
nor, to the best knowledge of the Reporting  Persons,  SIT, EGI, SZ Investments,
Managing  Member or Chai,  or any of the persons set forth in Item 2 above,  has
any contract,  arrangement,  understanding or relationship  with any person with
respect to any securities of the Issuer.

ITEM 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS

Item 7 is hereby amended by adding the following:

         Exhibit 5 -       Amended and Restated Joint Filing Agreement dated
                           October 21, 2004 and made by and among the Reporting
                           Persons

         Exhibit 6 -       Power of Attorney dated October 21, 2004 made by
                           Gantz in favor of F. Mark Reuter, Storage Acquisition
                           Company, L.L.C. and EGI-Fund (02-04) Investors,
                           L.L.C.







CUSIP No. 43705105                   13D/A                Page 10 of 12 Pages

                                   SIGNATURES

After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.


Date: October 22, 2004

SAMSTOCK/SIT, L.L.C.
EGI-FUND (02-04) INVESTORS, L.L.C.
ZELL GENERAL PARTNERSHIP, INC.

/s/ Donald J. Liebentritt
-----------------------------
Each By: Donald J. Liebentritt
Its: Vice President


STORAGE ACQUISITION COMPANY, L.L.C.

/s/ Ellen Havdala
-----------------------------
By: Ellen Havdala
Its: President


/s/ Joseph Gantz
-----------------------------
JOSEPH GANTZ







CUSIP No. 43705105                   13D/A                Page 11 of 12 Pages

                                    EXHIBIT 5

                   AMENDED AND RESTATED JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

THIS  AGREEMENT is dated as of October 21, 2004 and is made by and among Storage
Acquisition  Company,  L.L.C.,  a Delaware  limited  liability  company ("SAC"),
Samstock/SIT,  L.L.C., a Delaware limited  liability  company  ("Samstock/SIT"),
Zell  General  Partnership,  Inc.,  an Illinois  corporation  ("ZGP"),  EGI-Fund
(02-04) Investors,  L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("Fund 02-04"),
and Joseph Gantz, an individual ("Gantz";  together with SAC, Samstock/SIT,  ZGP
and Fund 02-04, the "Reporting Persons").

WHEREAS,  each of Samstock/SIT  and ZGP are parties to that certain Joint Filing
Agreement dated as of December 27, 2001 (the "Original Agreement"),  pursuant to
the terms of which  Samstock/SIT  and ZGP agreed to provide  for the filing of a
joint Schedule 13D, and all amendments thereto, with respect to shares of common
stock,  par value  $0.01,  of Home  Products  International,  Inc.  (the "Common
Stock");

WHEREAS,  each of SAC, Fund 02-04 and Gantz, together with Samstock/SIT and ZGP,
may be deemed to  constitute a "group" for  purposes of Section  13(d)(3) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

WHEREAS,  each of the Reporting  Persons  desire by this  Agreement to amend and
restate the Original  Agreement in its entirety to add SAC, Fund 02-04 and Gantz
thereto  and to  provide  for  the  joint  filing  of a  Schedule  13D,  and all
amendments thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to
the Common Stock.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. The  parties  hereto  will  join in the  preparation  and  filing of a single
statement   containing  the  information  required  by  Schedule  13D,  and  all
amendments  thereto,  and the Schedule 13D and all such amendments will be filed
on behalf of each party  hereto.  Each party is eligible to use the Schedule 13D
on which such information is filed.

2. Each party hereto will be  responsible  for the timely filing of the Schedule
13D, and all amendments  thereto,  and for the  completeness and accuracy of the
information  concerning  such party contained  therein.  No party hereto will be
responsible for the  completeness or accuracy of the information  concerning any
other party  contained in the Schedule 13D or any amendment  thereto,  except to
the extent such party knows or has reason to believe  that such  information  is
inaccurate.

3. This  Agreement  may be  executed  in  counterparts,  all of which when taken
together will  constitute one and the same  instrument.  This  Agreement  hereby
amends and restates the Original Agreement in its entirety.







CUSIP No. 43705105                   13D/A                Page 12 of 12 Pages

                                    EXHIBIT 6

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned,  Joseph Gantz, has made,
constituted  and  appointed,  and by these  presents does make,  constitute  and
appoint,  each and any of F. Mark Reuter,  Storage Acquisition  Company,  L.L.C.
("SAC") and EGI-Fund (02-04) Investors, L.L.C. ("Fund 02-04") with full power of
substitution,  his true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  for him in his
name, place and stead individually,  to execute,  acknowledge,  deliver and file
any and all filings  required by Section 13 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934,  as  amended  (the  "Act"),  and the  rules  and  regulations  promulgated
thereunder  respecting  Rule 13d,  Schedule  13D,  and any  amendments  thereto,
together  with all filings  required by Section 16 of the Act, and the rules and
regulations promulgated  thereunder,  and any amendments thereto, to be filed by
him in connection with the acquisition and/or disposition by SAC (of which he is
a non-managing  member) or Fund 02-04 of shares of common stock, $0.01 per share
par value, of Home Products International, Inc., hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

The  validity of this Power of  Attorney  shall not be affected in any manner by
reason  of the  execution,  at any time,  of other  powers  of  attorney  by the
undersigned in favor of persons other than those named herein.

WITNESS THE EXECUTION HEREOF this 21st day of October, 2004, by Joseph Gantz.