Thank you to everyone that continues to send emails and check our social media pages. We have been receiving so much support and concern for staff and our guests. It has truly been heartwarming.
I wanted to share why did the winter shelter close on March 13 and how & why did we end up at the NKY Convention on March 21? Two great questions that we are being asked these days. First, the cold shelter closed because we could not meet the appropriate 6 foot social distancing in such a small space. As hard as it was to even think that sleeping outside would ever be better than sleeping in, that is exactly what I was reading as happening in other parts of the nation.
Second, how did the NKY Convention center come into the picture? Simple, I was reading about how Oregon has turned their convention center into a large homeless shelter as I watched the forecast for that evening dip below 32 degrees. A time when we should be operating below freezing, or if it would have been October or April, we would have called the staff in and opened to save the lives of the people outside. All I could think about was 40,000 square feet and ample restrooms… so, I took a deep breath and called Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann and said, “I have this crazy idea”. and ran the idea by him & asked if he connect me to the NKY Convention Center. Judge Knochelmann called Ms. Gretchen Landrum himself and within 30 minutes we had a yes and the wheels were in motion. Next phone call was to Danielle Amrine, CEO at Welcome House to see if they could assist with the medical side and their outreach team and she said yes! Next call was to Captain Aaron Moore at Kenton County Salvation Army to see if we could get in to retrieve the cots and he said yes. So many people saying yes quickly! Additionally ESNKY staff Stella Hall and Kenton County Emergency Management rounded out the team and by 8 pm on Saturday March 21 we had 45 adult men tucked in and each had their own 10 ft x 10 ft area all in all 40,000 glorious square feet and restrooms. The men were so appreciative to be inside.
I had 3 goals in mind when pursuing this:
1) To save lives as it was below freezing & during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2) To flatten the curve, keep the homeless inside and out of the hospital & leave those beds equipment for people who really needed it.
3) To give them access to restrooms & sinks because handwashing is critical and as we know the current toilet paper shortage we are all facing, lol.
In the end, a crazy idea on my part along with a lot of community partners who are “really good people” made this a reality for 75 adults. Thanks to the following agencies who said yes without hesitation when I called & asked them to help ESNKY & the people experiencing homelessness: Be Concerned, Breakfast Mission of Covington, Brighton Center, Catholic Charities, Covington Fire Department, Fairhaven Rescue Mission, HealthPoint, Kenton County Emergency Management, NKY Health Department, Pee Wee’s Restaurant, Salvation Army- Kenton County, The Lords Gym, and Welcome House.
We are on day 5 and things are humming along. Half of the center is set aside for anyone symptomatic and the onsite medical is checking temperatures every four hours. Cornhole, games and a large projector with Netflix is set up, showers have been taken offsite and meals have all been scheduled. They are staying healthy at home.
All of us are doing this while continuing to operate our own organizations. I couldn’t be prouder of our Covington community partners and my staff who continue to show up. If you can help, please click here to donate on our website here & put NKY CC in comments. If you can volunteer, please let Kevin Dorning know by email.
Much peace, & stay healthy at home,
Kim
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- NKY Convention Center
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- Sleeping area
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- Cornhole
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- Set up