The shelter is working with the county’s social services department to find ways to distance residents. Typically, there are at least four people to a bedroom, and that needed to change.
“Congregate settings are a hotbed for this virus, because there’s no option to socially distance,” said Stepping Stone Emergency Housing executive director Julie Jeppson.
To spread people out a bit more, about half of Stepping Stone’s residents have moved into a nearby hotel. About a month ago, the shelter banned visitors and volunteers from visiting, And, there’s also been bigger changes.
“The most significant way it changes our operation is through food,” said Jeppson.
In a normal week, Stepping Stone receives donations at the end of the lunch hour from area schools. Local restaurants normally donate as well. With schools closed, and restaurant operations dramatically changed, these donations have nearly stopped.
While Stepping Stone was able to secure grants and donations to help with the hotel costs, finding extra dollars for the additional food costs is much more difficult.
“Interestingly enough, there’s a lot of emergency funds for food shelves, which are in desperate need of help as well,” said Jeppson. “But for the emergency shelter funds, it excludes food as a priority. So what we are depending on is the generosity of community to help us with purchasing power, because our budget is going to at least double if not triple in food costs because of this.”
And while the struggle for food dollars is there, so is the struggle for health. The shelter has implemented daily temperature checks for all staff and residents. Last week, three residents had a temperature of more than 100.4 degrees. They were put into quarantine.
Mercy Hospital has set up a process for Stepping Stone staff and residents to be tested for COVID-19 once symptoms develop, but getting to the test creates new challenges.
“The problem is transportation. Transportation is always a hurdle for people experiencing homelessness, but for those who need to get tested it’s even worse. Right now I can’t ethically ask anyone to transport them in a car,” said Jeppson.
Knowing that community spread of the virus is high, she worries how long it will be before more residents and staff become sick.
“Once our staff starts getting sick, and it’s not if it’s when, my real fear is how quickly staff are going to get sick, and if that means we have to shut our doors. There is a point where if we can’t staff it we can’t exist,” said Jeppson.
In addition to immediate money and food needs, Stepping Stone shares an Amazon list of specific needs at the shelter.
