Health & Wellness

Respite sites open in Lane

SPRINGFIELD — As part of its COVID-19 response, Lane County has identified a temporary respite site in Springfield where unhoused individuals can receive services, including a safe place to sleep, meals, showers and medical screenings.

The site in Springfield is the Memorial Building owned by Willamalane Park and Recreation District.

 Lane County has contracted with St. Vincent de Paul to operate the shelter aspect, and is working to establish Occupy Medical as the medical screening resource.  

Participation in the service is voluntary. Only the individuals staying at one of the locations overnight will have access to the facilities. Lane County Environmental Health employees are assisting with setup of both sites to ensure that proper social distancing can be observed. 

“Our unhoused community members are among our most vulnerable residents,” said Lane County’s Karen Gaffney. “Not only is it more difficult from unhoused people to maintain the good hygiene and social distancing that is critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19, but many of the social services they depend on for meals are not able to operate right now, or operating at a much smaller scale.”

Instagram

 

View this profile on Instagram

 

The Chronicle (@thechronicle1909) • Instagram photos and videos