COVID-19 has pretty much erased the phrase, “business as usual”. So many businesses and others have had to come up with new ways of doing things. That includes places like Degage’ Ministries. They recently had to move women in one of their programs to new housing due to social distancing requirements.
Degage Ministries recently took proactive measures to ensure the safety of women in its “Open Door Women’s Center program.” The program allows women to stay at their overnight shelter. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, Degage has moved about 20 women to a local hotel.
Brooke Jevicks is Degage’ Ministries Development Director.
“They don’t have a home to stay at, right? Degage’ is their home. But because we do have an open bay area, we were doing our best to keep them separated, when the order first took place, but as we were navigating through the adjustments, we determined that really, the most proactive and the safest, in reflecting that Christ loved the most, was moving them into individual rooms to keep them safe.”
The Open Door Women’s Center provides a safe haven during the overnight hours to adult women in crisis. Jevicks says staff is available during the day to assist with setting goals and exploring options for securing permanent sustainable housing.
“We are continuing to provide 24-hour care to those women. Making sure they’re safe and not completely isolated, that they know somebody is on the campus and on the grounds, for help.”
The building’s first floor dining room and community center remains open, using social distance rules, as does the kitchen which is providing free breakfast and dinner to go meals each day. Degage’ says it’s serving two to three times the amount of meals it normally does.
You can find out more about the Open Door program at Degageministries.org/opendoor
