Rescue Mission moves vulnerable shelter users to Bellarmine HS in response to coronavirus
The Tacoma Rescue Mission has become the second homeless shelter in the city to relocate individuals vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19.
On Monday, according to the mission, 50 men who had previously been staying at the emergency overnight shelter on South Tacoma Way were transported to Bellarmine High School, where they spent the night in the school’s Names Family gym.
In a statement, the mission said the men had been “identified as at-risk, due to age and underlying health conditions.”
Last week, the Nativity House emergency overnight shelter at South 14th and Yakima Avenue moved nearly 60 vulnerable shelter users to a downtown hotel.
In both cases, the facilities made the decision to relocate vulnerable individuals to protect them and create additional space for social distancing.
According to Tacoma Rescue Mission, officials from Bellarmine “stepped forward, offering use of their Names Family gym to relieve crowded conditions at the Mission’s men’s campus.”
The deal is “temporary,” according to the Rescue Mission and the high school, and “intended to remain in place while the school is shut down and social distancing is needed.”
In a statement, Rescue Mission executive director Duke Paulson called Bellarmine’s offer “an immense blessing.”
“I have been deeply concerned for our guests with the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak,” Paulson said. “We are grateful to have Bellarmine step forward to help care for community members in need during this uncertain time, by helping us improve social distancing in our men’s shelter.”
The Tacoma Rescue Mission emergency men’s shelter has a standard capacity of roughly 160, though that number is sometimes exceeded.
Last week, largely due to cold weather, the shelter housed nearly 190 homeless individuals every night, Paulson told The News Tribune.
Utilizing Bellarmine’s gym, according to Rescue Mission spokesperson Amelia Kaiser, will reduce the number of individuals staying at the main shelter to roughly 140.
Kaiser said additional measures are in place to increase social distancing at the shelter.
According to the Rescue Mission, Bellarmine’s gym and bathrooms will be made available between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. and two of the shelter’s staff members will work on site at the school.
With assistance from Life Center Church and First Presbyterian Tacoma, the 50 individuals will be transported to the school each night and returned to the Rescue Mission in the morning.
Walk up guests will not be allowed entry at Bellarmine, according to the Rescue Mission.
Tacoma Rescue Mission and Nativity House have both publicly reported cases of COVID-19.
Kaiser said the individual who tested positive for COVID-19 at Tacoma Rescue Mission has “made a full recovery.”
“Sounds like he was probably treated a fair ways into his illness,” Kaiser said.
Additionally, two shelter guests and one Rescue Mission staff have also been tested for COVID-19, Kaiser said.
No additional positive cases have been identified, she told The News Tribune.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 4:47 PM.
