During this time of national trauma, I would like to acknowledge the good that has come from this tragedy.
The Interfaith Community Shelter at Pete’s Place serves those who are the most vulnerable in our community. We have continued to provide shelter, meals and essential services in the midst of what feels like a national nightmare.
Understandably, many of our 2,000 volunteers are of an age or health status that makes them (or their partners) more susceptible to the Coronavirus and, rightfully, have needed to take some time away from the Shelter. We have missed them, profoundly. From this temporary loss, we have seen our Shelter staff double down, and new volunteers step forward, to help feed and provide essential services to our guests.
Also, several institutional and individual donors have emerged with funds to help cover the added costs of this crisis (e.g., staff, food, meal supplies, even motel rooms), as we move many of our most vulnerable guests away from the Shelter to create social distancing.
I would like to acknowledge Anchorum St. Vincent, the Thornburg Foundation, the Kind World Foundation, the Frost Foundation, the Santa Fe Community Foundation, the County of Santa Fe Human Services Department and the City of Santa Fe Community Services department for the generous emergency funding and the continued concern for our guests. There are many more individual donors who have also stepped up with donations to help the shelter and the people we serve. I can’t list you all here, but I hope you know we have noticed and greatly appreciate your support, even as you undoubtedly face such incredible uncertainty in your own lives.
For a while it felt a little lonely here at the shelter, with so many important decisions to make. But Santa Fe, true to its nature, has come together as a community -- like no other I’ve known -- to help those in greatest need. It doesn’t feel so lonely anymore, and that feels good.
Joe Jordan-Berenis
Executive Director
A MESSAGE FROM OUR VOLUNTEER
Please enjoy this wonderful video from our friend and faithful volunteer, Win Speicher, who continues to advocate for the Shelter, even as she shelters with her family at home.
SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOME
On March 24, in an effort to provide social distancing for individuals experiencing homelessness, the Interfaith Community Shelter began moving our guests into the Greentree Inn. Only those guests who are asymptomatic over the age of 60, medically fragile, and clean and sober were offered a shared hotel room with one other guest. We interviewed each guest so we could be sure they knew what their commitment was to us—and ours to them – and asked them each to sign a case management contract. Today, we have temporarily housed 46 guests at the Inn.
Matt, the general manager at the Greentree Inn, was thrilled to be able to offer the Shelter this option at a significantly reduced rate. On the day we called, he had been facing the harsh reality of having to lay off the bulk of his workforce. He reassured us that his staff would offer our guests the same respect and boundaries that they offer everyone who stays there and that they are familiar with the population we serve. Many of the guests of the Greentree Inn, he said, are working homeless who often stay for extended periods.
Every evening around 6 o’clock, our new employee James delivers hot meals from the Shelter to our guests at the Greentree. He goes to each room to check on everyone, and if there are any issues that need to be resolved, he reports those to our case manager, Clinton, who works with clients to find solutions. Sometimes, the solution has been as easy as providing ear plugs to someone who didn’t like his roommate’s snoring. Who can’t relate to that?
KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE INSIDE OUR BUILDING
Pete’s Place is the only come-as-you-are, or minimal barrier shelter, in Northern New Mexico. That means that Interfaith Community Shelter houses everyone, regardless of condition or circumstance, as long as they can abide by rules against violence or extreme disrespect. Most of our guests suffer from debilitating mental health and/or substance use issues, and many of them could not handle a motel setting. They have remained at the Shelter.
We have implemented the following protocols for all guests who enter the building for the evening and for day services:
Temperature taken. Anyone with a fever of 100 or above or who presents with a persistent cough or shortness of breath receives an escort in the back of a city bus to the dormitories at the former College of Santa Fe, where they will be tested for COVID 19 and temporarily housed by the City of Santa Fe. To date, we have had 4 guests and 2 staff members tested; all were negative.
Physical distancing of overnight guests to every other bunk in the dormitories and every third chair in the cafeteria.
The Day Services program allows ten guests at a time in the Shelter until all are served. There can only be two guests at the Community Closet receiving clothing; four at the showers; and two for each of the restrooms. Unfortunately, in the interest of public health, the community aspect of the Shelter has taken a back seat for the time being. But our guests are still welcomed and treated like family.
Volunteers and staff box the lunches that are either prepared at the Shelter or donated and hand them out at the door, like a takeout restaurant.
With the exception of Healthcare for the Homeless, all of our Partner Providers and other services provided by volunteers have temporarily suspended operations at the Shelter. This is a heartbreaking setback for many of our guests, who rely on anything from mental health and legal services to the homeless choir and art group to help stabilize and create some normalcy in their lives.
THINGS WE WON’T SOON FORGET…
The chaos, uncertainty and stress of the first weeks of this crisis – those first weeks will always be with us. At least they are behind us now, though we know there is more uncertainty ahead and that we will manage it as it arises.
Joe trying to figure out how to join a Webex meeting with the mayor’s crisis team – to this day, no one can hear him when he tries to join. (Luckily, he has become a pro with Zoom!)
The frenzied phone calls when we had our first possible case of COVID 19 – when we realized that no one was quite sure how the protocols everyone had discussed were actually supposed to work. We are pleased to report that case was negative, and all of the players are now in sync.
The pleasant surprise of the outpouring of generosity – from our donors and those whom we have never met before.
The equally amazing outpouring of effort from volunteers -- both established volunteers and those who are new to us, who are filling in gaps left by those who cannot be with us right now. Volunteers from doctors to helicopter pilots to stay at home moms have been coming to the Shelter to perform the essential service of feeding and helping our guests.
Finally, the dedication of our amazing employees -- who have put themselves on the front lines of this worldwide crisis without hesitation or complaint, our first responders!
Important Update – Women’s Summer Safe Haven
In the interest of public health, the Interfaith Community Shelter has partnered with the City of Santa Fe to house both men and women during what would have been the Women’s Summer Safe Haven starting in May. The roughly 46 men and women who are currently being housed at the Greentree Inn will now receive rooms and meals at the former College of Santa Fe campus dormitories. Pete’s Place will house men and women whose mental health or substance use issues are too pronounced for them to succeed without the support we offer here at the Shelter.
For those people who have donated specifically to the Women’s Summer Safe Haven, please be assured that your money will be set aside and used for its intended purpose, unless we hear directly from you. While the Shelter has emergency funds to help us support our population for the duration of the summer season, we have every intention of re-opening the women’s shelter as soon as stay-at-home orders end.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support. As always, we could not do it without you.
The Interfaith Community Shelter at Pete’s Place serves those who are the most vulnerable in our community. We have continued to provide shelter, meals and essential services in the midst of what feels like a national nightmare.
On March 24, in an effort to provide social distancing for individuals experiencing homelessness, the Interfaith Community Shelter began moving our guests into the Greentree Inn. Only those guests who are asymptomatic over the age of 60, medically fragile, and clean and sober were offered a shared hotel room with one other guest. We interviewed each guest so we could be sure they knew what their commitment was to us—and ours to them – and asked them each to sign a case management contract. Today, we have temporarily housed 46 guests at the Inn. 
Joe trying to figure out how to join a Webex meeting with the mayor’s crisis team – to this day, no one can hear him when he tries to join. (Luckily, he has become a pro with Zoom!)
