COVID-19 Homeless Relief Efforts

People experiencing homelessness are especially vulnerable to viruses…

Those without homes need help now more than ever. Therefore, all Joppa homeless services continue without interruption, including weekly outreach and aftercare.

Trained Joppa volunteers and staff have been visiting people living under bridges, in tents, and in vehicles weekly for 600+ consecutive weeks.

This weekly outreach builds relationships that have resulted in more than 400 families and individuals being helped off the streets in Polk County. And, over 80% of these men, women, and children remaining in housing today.

What Joppa is doing to help fight the spread of COVID-19

We’re making every effort to help our clients, volunteers, and staff stay safe by:

• Continuing all services for people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic

• Following all CDC and State Guidelines, and updating daily as needed

• Providing specific volunteer COVID safety training, protocols and other instructions

• Educating homeless clients—how to stay safe, get tested and where to go if positive

• Delivering soap, gallons of water, hand sanitizer, TP, food and other basic necessities

• Referring individuals for testing and medical help upon symptoms

• Surveying unsheltered individuals for Polk County to assess vulnerability and permanent or temporary housing options

• Helping 19 individuals, so far this month, find and move into permanent housing asap

• Working to provide 40+ additional people a safe place to isolate during COVID, while searching for permanent housing options for each person.

Latest May 2020 Update:

The COVID-19 Unsheltered Housing Assistance Survey, which Joppa created for Polk County, has identified more than 60 individuals that are qualified for immediate permanent or temporary housing.

Joppa is collaborating with Central Iowa Shelter & Services and Primary Health Care to access government COVID relief funds while raising the additional private funding necessary to immediately move homeless individuals directly into permanent housing, or into hotel rooms for safe isolation while continuing to pursue permanent housing options.

How Can You Help?

You can help by giving at the ‘Donate’ tab above as well as by dropping off critical supplies, such as soap, water, hand sanitizer, TP and tissues to the new Joppa Center at 2326 Euclid Avenue, Monday–Friday, between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

We will meet you outside…at a distance!

 

COVID-19 Safety Instructions for Outreach, Aftercare, and Circle-of-Friends Volunteers

In order to maintain the health and safety of our clients and volunteers, it is imperative that we adhere to these precautions as we continue to serve those in need:

If you have a cold, runny nose, sore throat or fever, please tell us ASAP and stay home!  Yes, we love having you serve with Joppa and we will miss you. Take care of yourself and get better so you can join us in the future.

Although we’re all about relationships, we must be all about safety too:

• All Outreach and Aftercare Teams will drive-up to designated spots outside the Joppa Center to load and unload, thereby maintaining safe social distancing
• Only a few designated volunteers will be allowed inside the Joppa Center
• All volunteers are required to wear gloves, masks, and safety glasses
• Model social distancing: Do not shake hands, hug or make direct physical contact with other volunteers or clients
• Continue to build relationships with lively discussions, looking clients in the eye, and providing what they need with a smile
• Review the latest Virus Safety handouts and go over them with clients.
• Keep your hands away from your face
• If you encounter someone who is coughing or appears sick, remember to keep your distance, ask about their symptoms and if they need medical help
• Inform people to call 211 if feverish, cough or shortness of breath
• Please report concerns to Joppa

Distributing Hand Sanitizer:

• Each volunteer team should take one larger bottle to use frequently
• Please bring this bottle back to Joppa as our supply is limited
• Ask each client: “Do you have enough hand sanitizer for the coming week?”
• Give one hand sanitizer and Virus Safety Package to each client that needs it

Food Preparation:

Joppa has temporarily suspended all meal preparation activities performed by volunteers, though we continue to deliver more than 100 warm meals each week to people living under bridges, in tents and vehicles.

How are we doing this? By partnering with long-time Joppa partner, Gusto Pizza Co., who is preparing delicious meals at their restaurant. This is to provide an extra measure of safety because commercial kitchens are required to follow FDA and USDA food safety rules, even though there is no evidence viruses can spread through food.

Thank you for serving!

The Joppa Staff