The Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana has relocated its white flag emergency shelter from a Jeffersonville church to a New Albany hotel.Hampton Inn on West Spring Street has blocked off its entire fourth floor of 30 rooms for the coalition.A white flag is called when temperatures are expected to fall 35 degrees or below for at least four hours overnight.According to Leslea Townsend-Cronin, the executive director of the Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana, the first white flag was called in November. She said the coalition quickly realized as more people came in, there was a bigger chance of spreading COVID-19."So we decided we needed to look into a hotel model to kind of mitigate the spread of COVID because we've got people coming to one space that might not necessarily have contact with each other on a regular day," Townsend-Cronin said. "We wanted to make sure we kept people healthy and safe."The first month at Hampton Inn is being supported by a $75,000 anonymous donation. The coalition has applied for another $400,000 from the state to help get through white flag season.Townsend-Cronin said that could last through April. On average, Townsend-Cronin said they see 15 people a night this time of year. Now they're already seeing closer to 30."What we're seeing is people who might not be comfortable in a congregate setting maybe out of fear, maybe they have a history of trauma, that just don't do that and would prefer to sleep out in the elements instead of being in a congregate situation. Now they're able to have their own private room," Townsend-Cronin said.Although doors must stay open and the halls are staffed with volunteers, Townsend-Cronin hopes people get a sense of what a home might feel like. "We're hopeful that might kind of give people the feeling of home and might be able to bridge whatever barriers might be there," Townsend-Cronin said. She hopes to connect them to services that will then become more stably housed.The white flag shelter at Hampton Inn is operating as it would somewhere else with curfews and in and out times.Due to the situation, they are only serving Southern Indiana residents.Adults over the age of 18 must show a state-issued I.D.Dinner, breakfast, and sack lunches are provided.Check-in is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. You do not need to make a reservation to be admitted. To learn more, visit the Facebook page or call the White Flag hotline (812-913-5278) at 3:30 p.m. each day to see if the shelter is open.For more information on White Flag, click here.
The Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana has relocated its white flag emergency shelter from a Jeffersonville church to a New Albany hotel.
Hampton Inn on West Spring Street has blocked off its entire fourth floor of 30 rooms for the coalition.
A white flag is called when temperatures are expected to fall 35 degrees or below for at least four hours overnight.
According to Leslea Townsend-Cronin, the executive director of the Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana, the first white flag was called in November.
She said the coalition quickly realized as more people came in, there was a bigger chance of spreading COVID-19.
"So we decided we needed to look into a hotel model to kind of mitigate the spread of COVID because we've got people coming to one space that might not necessarily have contact with each other on a regular day," Townsend-Cronin said. "We wanted to make sure we kept people healthy and safe."
The first month at Hampton Inn is being supported by a $75,000 anonymous donation. The coalition has applied for another $400,000 from the state to help get through white flag season.
Townsend-Cronin said that could last through April.
On average, Townsend-Cronin said they see 15 people a night this time of year. Now they're already seeing closer to 30.
"What we're seeing is people who might not be comfortable in a congregate setting maybe out of fear, maybe they have a history of trauma, that just don't do that and would prefer to sleep out in the elements instead of being in a congregate situation. Now they're able to have their own private room," Townsend-Cronin said.
Although doors must stay open and the halls are staffed with volunteers, Townsend-Cronin hopes people get a sense of what a home might feel like.
"We're hopeful that might kind of give people the feeling of home and might be able to bridge whatever barriers might be there," Townsend-Cronin said.
She hopes to connect them to services that will then become more stably housed.
The white flag shelter at Hampton Inn is operating as it would somewhere else with curfews and in and out times.
Due to the situation, they are only serving Southern Indiana residents.
Adults over the age of 18 must show a state-issued I.D.
Dinner, breakfast, and sack lunches are provided.
Check-in is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. You do not need to make a reservation to be admitted.
To learn more, visit the Facebook page or call the White Flag hotline (812-913-5278) at 3:30 p.m. each day to see if the shelter is open.
For more information on White Flag, click here.
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