A Chatham homeless shelter for men that closed at the end of April is reopening.
Chatham Hope Haven said it will open its doors again on June 22. But new General Manager Loree Bailey said, like most other things, the operation will look much different than it did when it closed due to COVID-19 on April 25.
Bailey said volunteers have been working around the clock to put safety measures in place that will allow for safe physical distancing. She added the biggest change is that the shelter will be opening during the day as a cooling-off station where people experiencing homelessness can come in for a break from the hot weather, use the washroom, have lunch, use the shower, and do their laundry. Daytime hours will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to start and if the hours need to change they will, according to Bailey.
Bailey added Hope Haven has been delivering meals to the homeless with other community partners over the past several weeks and the need for a daytime cooling station was identified.
“We have the facility and we certainly have the desire to do everything we can,” said Bailey. "A lot has changed in our world over the past few months, but our commitment to help those in need has not."
Anyone that is interested in volunteering is asked to contact Chatham Hope Haven at 519-351-4010.
The shelter has been open for almost three years.
