We are still here for those who need us most
As the Austin community, along with the rest of the country, is practicing social distancing and other safety measures amidst the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we want you to know we are still working every day to keep providing vital services to our clients, including housing, food and employment services.
Safety is our top priority for our clients, staff and volunteers. We are monitoring the situation frequently and adjusting our response.
Safety Measures in Place
To reduce the risk of infection, or spreading infection, we are implementing the following:
- Our Community Kitchen will be closed to diners until further notice. Because the population we serve is particularly vulnerable, though, we will continue to serve lunch in the safest way possible. Beginning Monday, March 23rd, we will provide sack lunches.
- Clients will continue to have access to food from our Pantry.
- Every one of our clients have been to provide crucial health information such as how to prevent infection, how to access medical care if they do not have insurance, and emergency procedures. All communications are made available in each client’s native language.
- We continue to provide client support but when possible, by phone to protect both the client and staff.
- If we identify a client with severe COVID-19 symptoms, staff will notify the public health department and arrange for the client to receive immediate medical care.
- Practicing social distancing by suspending all in-person meetings. All meetings are being conducted by conference calls and video feed.
Our leadership team has identified a minimum number of services and staff that must remain in-office to continue to provide crucial services. All other staff are working remotely.
Now More Than Ever
We ask you to remember that the population we serve needs our help, now more than ever. They are more vulnerable to infectious diseases due to lack of access to primary care, transportation, and poor health status from extended episodes of homelessness. The work we do must not stop, but the way we deliver our services will be altered, temporarily.
We hope you stay healthy and aware. Together, we will get through this.
If you would like to help, here are some things you can do.
- Make a donation. Monetary gifts will help us meet the most urgent needs such as providing food and helping someone to pay their rent and utilities if they have lost their income.
- Purchase urgently needed items on our Amazon Wish List.
- Donate items on our Wish List – especially the COVID-19-related items.
- Put together Care Kits – socks, hand sanitizer (or some alternative), water bottles, Emergen-C, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap
