In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CHUM is working with the City of Duluth and St. Louis County to provide two COVID-19 isolation and quarantine locations for people experiencing homelessness. One site was established by the City of Duluth to provide a safer, less dense environment for people at CHUM Shelter who are particularly vulnerable: those over age 60 and/or with underlying health conditions. This has helped thin out the overnight population at CHUM, typically around 70 people.
The other site, provided by St. Louis County, has separate floors for people who are awaiting test results or who have had close contact with someone who has tested positive, as well as a floor for people who have tested positive or have been discharged from the hospital with Covid-19, but not yet cleared to return to the community. These two sites, with a combined capacity of 118 people (a number based on the experience of Seattle applied to Duluth), allow for those without homes to have a safe place to shelter without compromising the safety of others in congregate care settings.
CHUM has also hired a wonderful team of generous people who, though furloughed or laid off as a result of COVID-19, still want to help. They will work at the isolation and quarantine site to assist with intake and room assignment, well-being checks, assistance with meal service and outdoor breaks, providing guests with information they need to support isolation and quarantine and meet their basic needs. Although, there have been no positive COVID-19 test results, the isolation and quarantine site is ready to mobilize within two hours of notification, and the preventative site is operating as a beacon of hope for the elderly homeless in Duluth. The Damiano Center and the Whole Foods Co-op are providing food for this location.
Lee Stuart, the Executive Director of CHUM stated, “We’ve been lucky without transmission to the homeless community here in St. Louis County, yet it is vital to maintain readiness for our expected peak. It’s much better to be executing a plan rather than creating one in the midst of chaos.” The tremendous support and leadership from St. Louis County and the City of Duluth to provide a safety plan for people experiencing homelessness in the face of the pandemic is contributing to our community’s ability to flatten the curve as much as possible while still preparing for the worst. Plans are also being put in place for people who are unsheltered, and CHUM’s emphasis now is to make sure they have the health and hygiene facilities they need and that their basic needs for food, water, and shelter are met.
For more information, contact: Molly Lyons at mlyons@chumduluth.org or visit http://www.chumduluth.org. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
