First responders have a new lodging option that will allow them to lower the risk of possibly transmitting COVID-19 to friends and family. Thanks to a partnership with Brescia University and Kentucky Wesleyan College, those serving to protect the community during the coronavirus pandemic can apply for housing on each of the institutions’ campuses.
“The benefit is that they have a place to go to after their shift working with the public and decrease the risk of exposing their families,” said Brescia Vice President of Student Affairs Joshua Clary, who first got the ball rolling with the effort. “We know that asymptomatic individuals can transmit the virus, so the idea is to house people who are exposed by the public and keep them from exposing their families who are healthy at home.”
Clary first got the idea after talking with a friend at Manhattan College in New York, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. Manhattan College was asked to use their residence halls to house sick patients because the need was that dire.
Brescia is offering four houses (St. Joseph Hall, Greenwell Hall, Reisz Hall and Ursula Hall) which provide 28 private rooms. Kentucky Wesleyan is offering some of their Stadium Apartments, with units of three rooms for 18 beds at this time.
Clary worked with his counterpart at Kentucky Wesleyan, Vice President of Student Affairs Rebecca McQueen-Ruark, to coordinate the effort on both campuses.
“Both colleges consolidated students into other residence halls since we had very few students left,” Clary said. “Housekeeping staff from each campus cleaned and disinfected the facilities after students moved out.”
With only a few dozen beds available, Clay said they decided to offer their services to first responders rather than patients.
“Our halls aren’t as large as some institutions, so I thought we might serve by helping those on the front lines rather than patients,” he said. “I contacted Andy Ball at Daviess County Emergency Management to see if there was a need, and he surveyed his contacts. There was a clear need, so we moved forward. We wanted to do something to help, and we had space, so it seemed like a good fit for everyone.”
Clay said the primary groups they are reaching out to include law enforcement, detention center staff, EMTs, ambulance personnel and firefighters, though they won’t turn away anyone in the medical field who needs help.
Applications can be submitted over the weekend, and they will start being reviewed by both institutions on Monday.
Below are some conditions and overview of the process:
- Applicants must be symptom free of COVID-19 for 14 days and not tested positive for COVID-19.
- Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 while living on either campus will be asked to leave and will coordinate with Daviess County Emergency Management on housing accommodations.
- Applicants will complete the following, brief, online application: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=TIX3V01oUUuacVKdvBN0WonbiL7Qdu1Msk_WmIvvY4FUN01WRUxGSkdaS0Q3TTcyOEowSEpRN1hFRC4u
- The above application lists accommodations provided at each campus as well as basic rules on each campus, which applicants must agree to in order to be eligible for housing. Bedding will not be provided. All beds on each campus are Twin XL.
- Residence Life staff from Brescia and Kentucky Wesleyan will contact applicants at the phone number they provide to discuss accommodations, move-in process, and other pertinent details.
- Applicants will complete additional paperwork required of each campus at time of move-in, and at that point will receive keys.
Questions may be sent to Clary at [email protected] and questions will be answered by staff on either campus.
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
