Neighborhood Alliance still jewel in county

Neighborhood Alliance, which provides a roof overhead, food on the table and a bed at night for men, women and children in need, and its Haven Center Homeless Shelter for singles and families, have remarkably responded to the novel coronavirus pandemic by staying focused on its mission of serving people.

No question, the pandemic has hurt many people.

But, the coronavirus also has affected operations for Neighborhood Alliance, the nonprofit that started formally in 1927 to help immigrant families adjust to life in Lorain.

The mission has evolved over the years, and now includes shelter services of the Haven Center in Lorain.

Since March 2020, the shelter has remained open as an essential service, with staff working through the pandemic.

Recently, Morning Journal reporter Richard Payerchin spoke with Alicia Foss, Neighborhood Alliance president and CEO, Rebecca Haywood, director of shelter and emergency services operations, and Amy Anderson, director of senior enrichment services, and other staff at the Haven Center.

The residential section of the 68-bed shelter now is empty.

Before COVID-19 began spreading, the Haven Center averaged about 60 to 65 residents. The length of stay varied, averaging a month to 45 days for single adults and six months for families.

Need has gone up, with 100 people now using the service, including 40 or so children, and their stays are longer.

But, Neighborhood Alliance is using a range of funding from local, state and federal sources, foundation grants, fundraisers and donations to get creative.

Since last fall, Haven Center residents have been lodged in hotel rooms.

The organization has made deals for the hotel rooms because those are the safest options due to potential for spreading COVID-19.

Foss is concerned that with the shelter’s congregate setting, one person with coronavirus quickly could become 70 people infected.

With the space empty and health and safety a top concern, Neighborhood Alliance staff have begun considering how to remodel the shelter building.

Foss said the hotels have really given Neighborhood Alliance a chance to look at the Haven Center needs and start to put a plan in place.

Foss acknowledges she and her staff must figure out how to safely bring people back into the Haven Center.

Neighborhood Alliance realizes not everyone will get the vaccine for a variety of reasons. But, the agency does not feel that should be a barrier to its services.

The Haven Center, of course, will enforce all safety protocols, social distancing, mask wearing and the washing of hands.

Neighborhood Alliance also assists warming centers, overnight shelters with appropriately spaced cots, chairs and tables for single men at Sacred Heart Chapel in South Lorain and the Salvation Army center of Elyria.

Those facilities opened in February and shelter another two dozen or so men.

The warming centers are barebones temporary accommodations, but still are better than sleeping in a tent or a car when temperatures drop below freezing.

The centers will remain open until April 15.

Lorain County Public Health aims to make singledose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines available for those residents before the warming centers close.

The Haven Center, however, is not entirely empty.

Neighborhood Alliance handles hot and frozen meal delivery for residents across Lorain County, except in Sheffield Village, Sheffield Lake, Avon and Avon Lake, a territory served by the Lorain County Council on Aging.

The Haven Center’s upper floor is a commercial-sized kitchen with freezers and ovens to prepare meals.

When ready, drivers pack the fleet of trucks equipped with temperature-controlled hot and cold compartments.

From January to March, Haven Center has served 551 people and prepared 29,325 meals.

The drivers get to know the people on their routes, and Anderson likes the kitchen staff to remember they are helping people, not just packing portions of food.

Neighborhood Alliance is a Lorain County jewel that refuses to let COVID-19 take away from its mission.

Some individuals and some families are in a lot better shape because of this nonprofit.

Thank goodness for Neighborhood Alliance.