HHCS serves perhaps the widest range of populations across Heartland Alliance. Serving the unstably housed, the unemployed, refugees, immigrants, and travelers of all sorts, HHCS must make a wide range of changes to program delivery for so many different populations.
For our refugee and immigrant populations, our ESL courses and employment trainings have begun their annual two-week spring break. This has provided our team of educators and social workers much-needed time to develop new protocols for interactions and gives us time to determine how and when we can interact in person.
Similarly, our refugee resettlement program is setting up a small, dedicated team of staff members to quickly provide newly arriving refugees access to their new homes and ensure they have what they need to practice social distancing.
A majority of HHCS programs (including all housing services, our Violence Recovery Services mental health program, and our Freedom from Trafficking initiative) will now begin connecting remotely with participants. Let us be clear – services are continuing. Participants are encouraged to email or call their direct contacts to plan new means for meeting.
With potential resources and stimulus under consideration at the federal level, our Asset Building teams are hard at work trying to build online webinars to discuss best practices for spending and saving during a crisis. Normally, our team provides this information at regular seminars in person, and so our teams are learning on the fly to master online webinar systems and techniques. As the need for information and connection grows with the need for social distancing, our team is ready to connect – whether that’s for educational purposes, or just general human connection.
“It’s important at this time that we continue to reach out to participants to give them accurate, reliable information and referrals to resources,” said Kathryn Socha, Director of Asset Building. “But it’s just as important that we take the time to reach out to participants to ask them how they are coping, and to really listen to the answers. Being present for and with our participants, even if by phone, is all the more important in a time of crisis.
At Heartland Alliance’s longest running program, Travelers Aid Chicago based out of O’Hare international Airport, drastic changes have been made to ensure safety at one of the busiest places in all of Chicago. The volunteer centric program, dedicated to providing emergency assistance to individuals traveling through the airport, has been serving travelers in crisis for over 130 years.
Most of our volunteers that staff the help desks across the airport fall into high-risk categories for COVID-19, primarily due to the average age of our volunteers (mostly retirees). As our Volunteers await on the side-lines, they have been regularly engaged with Travelers Aid staff via phone, email and a very active Travelers Aid Volunteer Facebook group.
Working with the Department of Aviation, this team of problem solvers has configured a new system that allows Travelers Aid staff to assist passengers remotely. If you need assistance, our help desks are still active – even if there isn’t a person in that physical space.
“Social distancing and sheltering in place is about keeping our community – this international community – as safe as possible. Nevertheless, our volunteers live for this work, and we’re going to keep working. Our telecommuting means we will still provide counseling, emergency travel planning, and helping people in crisis.”
More ways to get involved
- Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated on the latest developments with our work.
- Share stories of our courageous participants and employees, and help us spread accurate information about how to keep vulnerable populations safe from COVID-19.
- Make a gift to help employees across the Alliance provide access to critical supportive services to those who are most vulnerable.
- Donate homemade masks to help fight COVID-19.
We are grateful for the support and care you have for the individuals we serve, and for our employees who are on the frontlines every day.
