Tough Times, Tough Decisions

We have made the difficult decision to close the shelter for the time being.  For the safety of our many volunteers, staff and shelter guests, we have moved our families into a hotel until they find housing.

We have no reason to believe that any of our guests, or staff have contracted or been exposed to Covid 19.  If we find out differently we will contact all volunteers who have been to the shelter for the last 4 weeks.

We will follow all state, National and CDC recommendations and open again when we can do so safely.

Thank you for all you do, for your generosity and hearts for the homeless in northern Washington County.  Feel free to share this blog link with your volunteers and I will keep posting to keep us in unity.

Stay well

Working Plan for Corona Virus

Hello staff and Volunteers,

Here is our "working plan": (meaning it is a flexible document and will most likely be updated as we know more things)

• If a shelter guest would come to the shelter and say they have been in contact with a known Covid19 symptomatic person we would,  isolate and separate following CDC guidelines-  , contact the hotline, report and get our next steps from them. 651-201-3920. 
• Separation would include:

• Meals separate from other families 
• adjustments made so they have a private bathroom 
• set up schedules for laundry so they are the only one using at any given time 
• sanitize after use etc
• If a shelter guest would come to the shelter and they, themselves are symptomatic (but we don't know if it is a cold, flu or other virus) we would follow the same procedure.  Call the hotline, and follow their directions 651-201-3920. As well as isolate and separate following CDC guidelines- 
• If a shelter guest has a confirmed case of Covid 19 this is how we would proceed:

1. We would send staff home to self quarantine: see guidelines here Cd=DC Corona Virus Fact Sheet
2. We would contact all volunteers that had been at the shelter dating back 2 weeks from the time the guest first showed symptoms, and give them the above resource as well 
3. We are in contact with Washington County to see where they will house homeless populations who contract Covid 19.  Our guests would need to go there and the shelter would be closed for 2 weeks or until we get the all clear. 

It's a "working plan" so may change, but that is what we have talked about for today.  Taylor, please share with Volunteer coordinators.

Deep Peace,

Carrin

Minnesota State Health Link

CDC link

3 Families, Odd Shifts

We have three families in the house and they are all moving targets!  We have some working evenings, some working swing shifts and some working evenings this week but then moving to day shift.  We are so happy they have jobs, so happy they are working their plan, and so happy to have flexible volunteers.

Sometimes we have had to call off our dinner volunteers because everyone is working, but it looks like we are settling into a new normal.

As always, thanks for all you do.

By The Way, Did you know that you can have your volunteers request to have an e-mail sent to them when there is a Blog update?