The early days of the pandemic were alarming for society as a whole, but were particularly dangerous for those who are marginalized and experiencing homelessness.
“It was a bit chaotic,” said Josef Faber, who has worked at Phoenix’s ‘COVID-19 Isolation Centre’ since it opened in April 2020 out of a motel in Abbotsford, serving those experiencing homelessness who are COVID positive or medically compromised, therefore can’t risk living communally in shelters.
“We didn’t have a lot of time to get things started, so we were thrown into the thick of it,” recalled Josef, who was working out of Phoenix’s Prevention Assessment Referral Centre (PARC) before transitioning into working at the emergency facility.
“Here we bring people meals, do checks on people every hour, and provide help wherever we can through housing – or even just listening,” said Josef, an Overdose Prevention Worker. “We ensure people stay alive, are fed properly and offering mental health support is important as well. The majority of the people here are local, and I’ve worked with them for years.”
“Being able to provide a reprieve from living on the streets is rewarding.”
Josef explained that for a time, the site was lovingly referred to as a maternity ward.
“We had two individuals who were pregnant and they’ve both given birth. One is still here. But we’ve had many people with mental health issues, some awaiting surgery due to hospital cancellations. One individual had cancer, so being able to provide housing, a place to rest, was so important.”
Phoenix Society staffs the site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, working collaboratively with a COVID Response Team. The facility has 26 suites, two of which are utilized by COVID-19 Response Nurses, and two by Phoenix Society staff including a Case Planner.
Clients are referred through an Integrated Outreach Table that reviews high-risk clients in the community, at-risk individuals who are pregnant, have medical concerns, are missing or abused. Overflow clients from hospitals and shelters are also served at the site.
In the first year, Phoenix served 222 clients awaiting COVID-19 results or needing to isolate, and 31 long-term medical clients. Several clients have experienced justice system involvement, and many have mental health challenges. During their stay, clients receive wraparound services for their addiction, health care, housing and mental health needs. Some medical conditions discovered by Phoenix staff at the hotel have included severe burns, cancer, bad infections, wounds requiring surgery, dementia and pregnancies.
While this work comes with challenges, Josef says it comes with rewards as well.
“It’s a meaningful way of giving back. It’s nice to get experience working with people that I can help.”