COVID-19 Response

The coronavirus pandemic greatly affects us all, but imagine not having a home in which to shelter in place. Our clients and those experiencing homelessness have been battling against both being homeless and COVID. We have been the home, the support and the safe spot for them during this frightening and uncertain time.

“It means to me a place to stay safe and food to eat. I’m safe here.” said David, an Emergency Shelter client housed at the satellite Hope Center shelter at Transylvania University last winter.

We are working around the clock to ensure the health and safety of our 650+ clients and the staff who serve them. This is a team effort along with you, our community. Thanks to you, we were able to respond to this crisis quickly and comprehensively.

 For the first eight months of the pandemic, the Hope Center had only a handful of COVID cases among clients and staff. But like the rest of the community and the state, we saw an increase in cases in December, around the Christmas season. 

“We took immediate action to care for each client and have been able to contain it and we always work closely with the Health Department” said Janice James, interim executive director of the Hope Center. “Our mission is to help those who are homeless, and we have done exactly that throughout COVID-19. We have never closed our doors, and our committed staff members have shown up for their jobs every day. We have been here paying close attention to the needs of our clients 24/7 since March 2020 – and so have our supporters and community partners. We are thankful for their assistance.”

Past safety protocols at the Emergency Shelter, recovery programs for men and women, mental health and all other Hope Center programs included:
–  Social distancing through increased living space with additional temporary structures, mobile bathrooms, bedding trailers and use of other building spaces.
– PPE, including masks and other gear, for clients and staff.
–  Daily testing in the Emergency Shelter and weekly testing in all programs. Additional testing is performed whenever there is a need or client request.
– The addition of a separate low-barrier warming shelter to serve men who are homeless but typically live in camps and do not want to stay in our emergency shelter but, need to be protected from the cold temperatures.
– Restrictions for clients, including leaving the facilities only for medical and vital appointments.
– Coordination with the Fayette County Health Department and the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention to ensure everyone who needs help during COVID receives it.

The Hope Center also has increased our efforts to help people dealing with homelessness through the Street Outreach Team, which visits people who don’t have shelter to provide basic necessities and connect them with needed resources. The program is funded by the CARES Act through the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. The Hope Center has partnered with the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention, Community Action Council and New Vista to provide necessary resources and encourage people to shelter as safely as possible from the cold temperatures and the COVID-19 epidemic. “The Hope Center staff has demonstrated dedication and compassion for those in our community who have no place to call home,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “And our community has reached out to help in so many ways. We are grateful to them and to all our partners who work together to help those who are homeless or struggling with housing during COVID.”

Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions regarding our COVID-19 policies.
If you cannot find the information you need, please refer to the contacts listed at the bottom of the page.

Information About Our Services

Information About Volunteering & Donations

Thank you for your patience as we implement procedures to keep our clients and community safe.