The executive director of the Downtown Mission says they could use cash and prayers as an outbreak of COVID-19 balloons at the homeless shelter.
Over the past week, an outbreak of six staff and guests has exploded to include 47 guests and 19 staff members. Another three staff members are waiting for their test results.
Dunn has tested negative so far but has been working long hours to establish an emergency shelter at the former Central Branch of the Windsor Public Library on Ouellette Avenue.
The mission started a one-year lease at the former library to use as storage, but as of last Friday, it became apparent it would have to convert the space to accommodate guests. The necessary approvals were in place by 5 p.m. on Monday, and Dunn put out a plea for help on Facebook.
In addition to his family and the family of other staff, some from the community showed up to vacuum 30,000 square feet of carpet and sanitize the surfaces. Champion Products opened on Family Day to supply cleaning products, and Bill Marra, the Vice President of External Affairs at Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, came by with linens.
“This drives home the point that we need to build a new, more adequate facility,” said Dunn.
The City of Windsor’s isolation centre had fewer than 40 spaces to offer, and other homeless shelters were full.
With tempers fraying in a volatile environment, Dunn recounted how he was down to just one security guard. Usually, the shelter has nine on staff. People were cold and hungry, but other agencies stepped up loaning their employees.
While the mission can not currently take clothing or food donations because of the risk of further infection, Dunn said what the shelter could use right now is money.
“This is all going to be pretty expensive,” he said. “The budget is out the window.”