To the Editor:
The life of someone experiencing homelessness is difficult every day, but in the present day it feels nearly impossible. The social safety nets, municipal resources and businesses that serve and support the individuals, families, veterans and young adults experiencing homelessness and hunger in our communities have closed their doors, out of responsibility and caution.
The effects of our state, national and global responses to coronavirus leave us all feeling unsettled; looking toward one another and our leaders to respond. I ask us all to see our community as a whole, including people who are already vulnerable and struggling to find places to wash their hands and fulfill basic needs. They are already compromised from a variety of health conditions as a result of experiencing homelessness for long lengths of time. The complexity of COVID-19 requires strategies to intentionally engage and support people who are vulnerable, helping to educate and provide the resources necessary for them to stay healthy and prevent transmission, which is what we are all hoping to do. Research shows that the best response is a unified one, and so it is important to prioritize the seniors and those who are immunocompromised; the healthier they are, the healthier we all are.
You will see Beth-El Center adapt to some of the best practices identified for emergency shelters in response to the public health crisis. We will be shifting services to meet the needs of our population, which we foresee increasing in both need and size. This includes our unsheltered homeless who are in need of equal access to information about the virus and basic resources to keep themselves healthy. Beth-El Center will maintain all programs and services, but with a leaner staff. We thank you all for joining us in practicing social distance, washing our hands and remembering one another.
Jennifer Paradis
Executive Director, Beth-El Center, Inc. Shelter and Soup Kitchen
Milford