Homeless agencies seek help to combat coronavirus spread
John T. Martin | Evansville Courier & Press | March 17, 2020
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Local agencies who assist people experiencing homelessness and others who are most vulnerable to the novel coronavirus need donations of basic cleaning and personal hygiene supplies.
The Commission on Homelessness for Evansville and Vanderburgh County said it is working with shelters, housing and service agencies to ensure precautions are being taken to prevent the spread of the virus locally.
Officials with those agencies convened Tuesday afternoon on a conference call. The event was supposed to be an in-person meeting; it was canceled when public health officials pleaded for more social distancing.
According to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, those experiencing homelessness share risk factors, including lack of sleep, generally poor nutrition, heightened levels of stress, limited access to hand sanitizers and washing facilities, reduced access to healthcare and greater exposure to germs.
“Our homeless neighbors can’t ‘stay home’ and self-quarantine, given their living conditions,” said Timothy Weir, administrator of the Commission on Homelessness.
Items that local agencies need include disinfecting wipes, liquid bleach, hand sanitizer, disinfecting soap, toilet paper and tissues.
Agencies that serve homeless and other vulnerable populations in Evansville include:
· Albion Fellows Bacon Center, (812)-422-9372 www.albionfellowsbacon.org
· Aurora Inc, (812) 428-3246, www.auroraevansville.org/
· ECHO Housing, (812) 423-8422, www.echohousingcorp.com
· Evansville Christian Life Center, (812) 423-9222, www.restoringpeople.com
· Evansville Rescue Mission, (812) 421-3800, www.evansvillerescuemission.org
· House of Bread and Peace, (812) 425-6754, https://sites.google.com/site/houseofbreadandpeace/home
· Ozanam Family Shelter, (812) 422-2214, www.ozanamfamilyshelter.org
· United Caring Services, (812) 422-0297, www.unitedcaringservices.org/
· YWCA Evansville, (812) 422-1191, www.ywcaevansville.org