News Flash

For Immediate Release

04/28/2020                        

Phone: 980-432-1800
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/covid-19
Email: covid-19@rowancountync.gov

Rowan County Case Information: https://bit.ly/rowan-covid19-hub

Deaths - Average Age 83

Citadel: 17
NC State Veterans Home: 4
Non-Congregate: 1

Rowan County and Rowan Helping Ministries Partner for Homeless Sheltering

Rowan Helping Ministries and Rowan County have established a strong partnership to address the needs of the homeless population during this health crisis.  Early on in the response to Corona Virus conditions, the Rowan County Health Department, Emergency Management, and Rowan Helping Ministries developed a solution for housing and caring for homeless individuals that had been tested for COVID-19 or had received a positive result.  Still in operation, this plan involves three 3 steps.  

First, a Health Department nurse works with the individual for a health investigation and remains in contact for the duration of need.  Second, Rowan Helping Ministries assembles food and supplies to support the individual during the period of isolation and remains in contact to ensure their needs are continually met.  Third, Rowan County Emergency Management coordinates safe transportation to a hotel room paid for by the County, where the individual can fulfill self-isolation requirements.

In addition, this partnership has worked to establish an overall operating plan that provides shelter services in a safe and caring way.  Guests are provided with pathways to sheltering, homeless prevention services, and hygiene facilities. New individuals entering the shelter located in the Robertson-Stanback Center (217 N Long St, Salisbury) must come from a residential center where they have been symptom-free for 14 days, come immediately from isolation, or come from a hospital with a negative COVID-19 test.  The Ralph W. Ketner Crisis Assistance Center (226 N Long St, Salisbury) is used as a transition to shelter individuals during this waiting period.  

New Tomorrows and Jeannie’s Kitchen have been repurposed to serve as additional day rooms to provide more physical distancing.  Rowan Helping Ministries is also partnering with Hood Theological Seminary to house situationally homeless due to COVID-19 job loss.  This effort is focused on families and individuals who are not protected by the moratorium on evictions (i.e. hotels or informal paid boarding situations). Rowan Helping Ministries’ Eagles Nest Transitional & Permanent Supportive housing program is operating 10 apartment units for transitional housing for individuals and 3 permanent supportive houses for families.  Financial assistance is available by phone at 704-637-3868, extension 119.  Consultation includes eviction prevention, housing assistance, and medications.

Additional Outreach Services:

• Showers
  • Ralph W Ketner Center from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM.  (Capacity can expand hours up to 6 hours a day, if needed.)  
• Restrooms
  • Jeannie’s Kitchen restrooms will be open to the public from oon to 1 PM every day.  
  • Port-a-Johns with handwashing sinks are stationed at the public parking lot on Lee Street between E Council Street and E Liberty Street.
  • Food Programs: 
• Food Pantries (For special assistance or to set a pickup time call 704-637-6838, extension 125)
  • Salisbury – Ralph W. Ketner Center - 226 N Long Street, Salisbury
    Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 3:30 PM
  • West - 785 Grampian Rd, Mt Ulla
    Friday, 9 AM – 11 AM 
  • East - 2570 St. Peters Church Rd, Salisbury
    Saturday, 8 AM – Noon 
  • Jeannie’s Kitchen (Robertson Stanback Center)
  • To-go lunch boxes are provided to community guests at the door between 12 PM and 1 PM
  • Food for Thought
    Rowan Helping Ministries continues to provide Food for Thought weekend food bags for school children.  We are serving 1,100+ students each week through the school bus meal delivery system.

For Rowan Helping Ministries, contact:
Erica Taylor
704-637-6838 ext 123
etaylor@rowanhelpingministries.org

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Contact:
TJ Brown
704-216-8918
tj.brown@rowancountync.gov

Download Media Release COVID-19 - April 28, 2020 (PDF)