Helping the homeless during a pandemic: COVID-19 changes Hope Station's procedures, but not its mission

Aug. 6--When Brenda Washington was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she didn't need help at first. She had a little money saved, she said.

But after that nest egg was spent, she reached out to Hope Station to qualify for assistance.

"It means a lot," Washington said recently. "It's helpful to everyone who can only pay their bills and not have enough money left for food."

In response to COVID-19, Hope Station and its shelters had to shift operations and the way the nonprofit serves clients. Part of that was converting its client-choice pantry model, similar to a grocery store, to pre-bagged food to ensure as little contact as possible.

On days the food pantry operates, volunteers place the bagged groceries on a table and walk away. Clients then walk to the table and retrieve their food.

"We still track client usage of the pantry, but with significantly reduced paperwork," said the Rev. Linda Walling, Hope Station's executive director.

Walling said the agency has had additional expenses for sanitation measures and bought open-air tents to shield clients from the sun as they wait at a distance to pick up their food donations.

CHANGING OPERATIONS

Washington is one of many clients who's had to rely on helping agencies like Hope Station through the pandemic.

"After the stimulus checks, extra food stamps and extra unemployment benefits, we're seeing an increase in clients in both of the shelters and food pantry," Walling said.

While Hope Station's food supply is stable right now, Walling said the agency will need extra food donations to make up for the summer and fall food drives it would normally hold -- another COVID-19 casualty.

"We are expecting a surge in both food needs and in shelter and housing requests," she said. "It has really started."

Hope Station is also starting home-delivered groceries to its elderly and disabled clients.

"Senior adults and persons with disabilities have been labeled at risk from the beginning," Walling said. "They have been afraid to come out. People that depended on others for transportation couldn't do that because of social distancing."

Walling said it's vital for Hope Station to get to its most vulnerable clients, and the agency will need volunteers.

SHELTERS

Hope Station's shelter for single men experiencing homelessness and the shelter for families have remained open. In a matter of days after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, both shelters added staff and expanded operations from overnight to 24 hours. All clients and staff are required to wear masks at all times. Walling said both shelters are operating at reduced capacity in order to accommodate social distancing measures.

Clients also eat in shifts. Kitchens and bathrooms are sanitized.

"We have moved from buffet-style service to staff serving plates," Walling said.

Temperature checks are in place for all staff members, volunteers and shelter clients.

Hope Station has plans to more quickly move clients out of congregate shelters and into their own homes.

Walling said Hope Station has worked with Carolina Family Health Centers, the health department, emergency management, a hotel and a taxi service to get shelter applicants tested for COVID-19 prior to allowing them in the shelter. As shelter applicants wait on their COVID-19 test results, they're sheltered in a hotel, and Hope Station provides their food.

FUNDRAISERS

Due to COVID-19, several fundraisers Hope Station relies upon had to be canceled. Many were large food drives that typically generate thousands of pounds of food.

Walling said the Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina and Federal Emergency Management Agency have made up for some of that lost food.

"It's been stable, but when we have an influx, it's going to be a challenge," she said.

PROVIDING SERVICES

Walling said the Wilson community has been wonderfully generous to Hope Station during the COVID-19 crisis.

She said new churches and organizations have called to volunteer as well. Volunteers are required to wear masks and gloves and heed all COVID-19 precautions.

"I think people are recognizing that people around them are hurting and are trying to figure out ways to be a part of the healing," Walling said.

Walling said Hope Station workers and volunteers have done an incredible job through the pandemic despite putting themselves at risk to help others.

"Clients are stressed," she said. "They are always stressed when they are going through a crisis. Now, the people that are tasked to help them are also stressed. I am really proud of the Hope Station staff that has hung in there, understanding that we provide essential services as a part of the community safety net and they've been here every day working, keeping the shelters open and the food pantry going."

___

(c)2020 The Wilson Daily Times (Wilson, N.C.)

Visit The Wilson Daily Times (Wilson, N.C.) at www.wilsontimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.