During this critical time for our communities, CHNA 20 has stayed in touch with our many partner agencies to provide support, guidance and a listening ear. We are inspired by the incredible work that has been done in our region to shift traditional models and provide needed services to residents despite the challenges of the pandemic. We’re pleased to highlight some of the efforts of our partners and friends, and to share their stories of success, hope and inspiration.
As challenging as COVID-19 has been for the average person navigating lock downs, social distancing, and concerns about personal and public health, it’s been much more difficult for those who don’t have stable housing. Father Bill’s & MainSpring (FBMS) has been on the front lines with people experiencing homelessness during the crisis, working to adapt their own models to ensure everyone’s safety during a critical time.
“We need to remember there are people who don’t have their own space and their own homes,” says Patrick Ronan, Community Relations and Marketing Manager. He explains that for people experiencing homelessness, the risks of COVID-19 are heightened. “The risk of contracting the virus is a huge concern for our population, especially since the virus impacts seniors at a higher rate. Our elder population has increased by 75% over the past five years. A lot of our other guests have underlying health conditions, which make them a particularly vulnerable population as well. It’s a matter of life and death to make sure we get the appropriate space between individuals.”
Liz Rogers, Program Development Director, agrees. “We have had to re-envision the way we provide emergency shelter and permanent housing to people...partnerships have been essential and must continue into the future. Until a vaccine is widely available, a return to the standard shelter model is not possible without risking increased infection rates. Public and private partnerships and resources must be leveraged for the long-term, and the challenges can't be left to shelter providers to solve alone.”
Collaborating With the Community for Continuity of Services
When the crisis started to hit Massachusetts in March, Father Bill’s & MainSpring looked to the guidance of colleagues in other areas for ideas about emerging best practices. Washington State was one area that had been hit early by COVID-19, and shelter providers there were able to give some guidance on ways to adapt to the coming challenges. Their most urgent advice was simple: Find new sites to open additional shelters.
Father Bill’s & MainSpring worked with Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, Quincy’s Office of Emergency Management, and the South Shore YMCA to convert the Quincy YMCA’s facility into a temporary shelter for up to 50 guests. Meanwhile, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless provided guidance on screening and testing guests to help limit potential spread of COVID. Through a partnership with Manet Community Health Center, all guests and staff have been tested on a rotating basis. The city provided support to set up a temporary quarantine site at a local hotel, where shelter guests can safely await their test results. Those testing positive are sent to a special isolation center run by the state; negative test results allow a return to the shelter.
“The depopulation effort has worked,” Ronan reports. “Many places have seen a 30% infection rate among the homeless, but in Quincy that rate never got higher than 5-6%. Our biggest priority moving forward is continued depopulation. We can’t return to the standard model.”
Seeking Support for Additional Needs
Rogers reminds us that emergency shelter isn’t the only function of Father Bill’s & MainSpring, and that all their work continues despite the added challenges of COVID-19. “We also continue to rehouse people by working creatively to conduct virtual unit inspections. For those who are housed, our staff have worked to support households with food drop-offs and other critical supports to ensure stability.”
However, as COVID has limited interactions with crucial volunteers and created new barriers to accessing services, resources have been stretched thin. Ronan says, “We normally receive 70% of meal donations and preparations from our volunteers, but since they’re not able to fill that role, we’ve had to start investing in additional resources for food.” He notes that local interfaith groups, local businesses, and the National Guard have all stepped up to help with supplies and preparations. “We’re grateful that the community has offered to help in whatever way they can,” he says, but notes that more support is always helpful. Cash donations in particular are useful, as they allow FBMS to be flexible and nimble in responding to rising need. If you’re able to donate, you can do so through the Father Bill’s & MainSpring website.
Success Despite the Challenges
Even though COVID-19 has disrupted normal models of working, Father Bill’s & MainSpring still sees signs that their efforts are paying off. Ronan recounts the story of a veteran who was living at the FBMS shelter in Quincy. “He was one of the first people to test positive for COVID at our site. He came to the shelter in early 2020, at which point he started working with re-housing case managers to find housing. After some time in the state isolation center, he came back to the YMCA shelter; all the while he was continuing to work with his re-housing case manager. Just a few weeks ago a spot opened up in one of our local housing facilities, and now he has his own home and is doing well.”
The veteran’s happy ending, Ronan says, highlights that it’s still possible to provide long-term stability despite the limitations of the present moment. From March to early June, Father Bill’s & MainSpring was able to successfully place 67 formerly homeless households, including individuals and families, into stable housing. “Our re-housing case managers have gone beyond their traditional roles,” Ronan says, adding, “We are following protocols while continuing our mission.”
Do you have a success story to share about how your organization has risen to meet the challenges of COVID-19 in the Greater Quincy Metro area? Contact us!