Community Housing Society has measures in place for homeless dealing with isolation

By GILLIAN SLADE on December 18, 2020.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade

Three people experiencing homelessness in the community are currently required to isolate, and Medicine Hat Community Housing Society has put measures in place to make this possible.

None of the three have tested positive for COVID.

“At this time, we have no confirmed COVID positive cases amongst our homeless population. People are required to isolated for a number of reasons, as identified in the Public Health Order,” said Jaime Rogers, manager of the homeless and housing development department for MHCHS.

Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter, Salvation Army Centre of Hope and the McMan Roots Shelter for youth, each have isolation units at their respective shelters now. Those in isolation can remain in place 24/7, said Rogers. MHCHS has a response in place for facilities that do not operate 24/7, or if additional isolation units are required, that includes physical and mental health supports.

While there are no COVID positive cases, there have been situations previously where isolation was required, and this used to be arranged with hotels, said Rogers. After reviewing what had worked best during the initial wave of the pandemic, it was decided that six dedicated isolation units would be best.

“We are able to better support individuals to successfully isolate,” said Rogers.

Since June 15 this year a total of 56 people, including the current three, have been provided with isolation or seclusion units, she said.

While in the isolation units each person has access to services on site that include COVID-19 swabbing, co-ordination of health assessments, prescribed medication, personal hygiene items, access to physicians and recovery-based services. There is also food and clothing from existing community resources.

Due to COVID-19 mandatory restrictions, the need for consistent shelter during the day was also recognized for those experiencing homelessness.

McMan has been contracted to operate a daytime shelter service daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 616 Third St. SE. The shelter will provide a range of supports focusing on housing and recovery-based services and programming, counselling, Alberta Health, Justice, Corrections and Policing Services, Indigenous and cultural supports and access to a technology hub for online services.

“… the doors are not quite yet opened, however staff, supplies and programming is ready to go,” said Rogers.

A similar program was set up in March when the pandemic struck.

“This is a further enhancement of services,” said Rogers.

The Salvation Army Centre of Hope overnight shelter also receives funding to operate from 7:30-11:30 a.m. every day, she said.

“We have also recently invested services at the Public Library and their work to support marginalized populations (not limited to homeless), however with the most recent restrictions, have had to put that service on pause,” said Rogers.

The enhancements will help to fill any gaps in shelter and support for those still experiencing homelessness, those staying in shelters and those sleeping rough, she explained.

Since the beginning of December, between five and 12 people, each night, have requested overnight shelter in Medicine Hat, said Rogers.