COVID-19 couldn’t hamper PADS of Elgin
PADS top priority is to keep the guests healthy and safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic, which is why PADS continues to remain open. PADS had started implementing Governor Pritzker’s’ shelter-in-Place’ order, signed on March 16th. Outside volunteers, donors, etc. were not allowed by PADS to serve food or enter our facilities to keep the spread of COVID 19 to a minimum.
After the practice started, the fabulous volunteers, donors, and local businesses who have helped our guests and us during this crisis in alternate ways. PADS “Shelter-in-Place” was made fun and educational by the Case Managers, Site Coordinators, Interns, and Office Personnel as they served the guests daily. PADS received emergency funding from United Way, the State of Illinois and Kane County.
The funding offered “hotel vouchers’ to the homeless that couldn’t be served in the shelter due to “Shelter-in-Place” requirements. The guests were made sure of the food and the needed supplies. We are making sure those hotel guests have the necessities they need while still providing the services that we offer our guests.
In order to service those that are housed at various hotels and service the homeless we currently have “sheltered-in-place” at PADS, we have decided to house all our guests at one hotel to serve them in the safest, healthiest and most efficient way. The guests will be continued to be serviced with wellness checks, food deliveries, protective masks, cleaning supplies, and other daily needs at the hotel. Comprehensive case management services will be serviced to the guests.
Each and every one of the guests will be helped to find permanent housing. It is more important than ever during these times to build more affordable housing to help those currently in need and those who will inevitably need help in the coming months.