COVID-19 Update from the CEO
Over the past few weeks, we have all experienced some fear and uncertainty. We are asking what the future will bring and how we can handle this current health crisis.
For many of us those questions have risen from the global concerns of COVID-19, but for the homeless neighbors we serve, these were already daily worries.
Amid the concerns of COVID-19, Peter & Paul Community Services is continuing to make the health and safety of our residents, staff, and community our top priority. Thankfully, so far none of our residents are showing symptoms. As we care for men and women that are homeless, we have instituted several proactive measures in adherence with the CDC and Department of Health guidelines.
WHAT WE’RE DOING:
- Our Soulard Shelter, which is typically open overnight, has gone to 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Temperatures of all our clients are being checked daily and often 2-3 times a day.
- We deep clean all of our facilities throughout the day and are educating our clients on proper hygiene and cleaning protocols.
- Residents at our Soulard Shelter, Labre Center, and Positive Directions programs are sheltering in place.
- At our Garfield Place Apartments, as much as possible, tenants are staying inside their apartments.
- In order to achieve social distancing, our Meals Program which usually serves 160 – 200 meals from the 2nd through the 21st of each month, has changed from congregate meals in the parish hall to distributing sack lunches by our staff, outside the building. We have also rented an outdoor hand washing station for clients to use.
- We are working with local commercial kitchens and chefs that are preparing and providing meals for our housing programs and sack lunches for our Meals Program. If your commercial kitchen wants to help, please contact Shane Taylor, our chief development officer, at shane.taylor@ppcsinc.org.
- With the shelter in place order, we have temporarily suspended all volunteer opportunities and gift-in-kind donations.
- Staff members are covering many extra hours every day, preparing additional meals and doing all the other tasks usually done by our generous volunteers. In order to compensate the staff for their increased workload and dedication to our clients, we have instituted temporary incentive pay for essential front-line employees.
- Currently, we are short-staffed and contracting for additional staff through a temp agency. We are hiring part-time, full-time, and PRN Shelter monitors and Behavioral Support Technicians with wages up to $18 per hour. Our job openings are listed here: https://ppcsinc.org/about-us/employment/
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Since the men and women we serve are some of the most vulnerable to the spread of this potentially deadly virus, we need your help.
Due to the extra safety measures, we are currently facing $10,000 in additional weekly expenses. Now more than ever, we recognize that hope and the support of our community is truly the only way that we can “solve homelessness together.”
Your gift, no matter the amount, will help care for our clients’ needs, supply added meals, provide cleaning supplies, and cover all the extended staff hours.
Please consider giving to our neighbors without homes from the comfort of yours.
Please continue to follow us on social media for future updates.
Thank you!
Steve Campbell,
Chief Executive Officer
