Daviess County Fiscal Court approved an agreement with Owensboro Christian Church as the new site for homeless individuals to take shelter during White Flag events. Previously, homeless individuals were housed at St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter for Men.
However, due to rising COVID-19 cases and the need to follow safety guidelines, a location with more space was needed.
White Flag events occur when local temperatures or the wind chill drops to 15 degrees or below. During those circumstances, any homeless individual is given shelter.
According to Judge-Executive Al Mattingly, Emergency Management Agency Director Andy Ball played a large part in securing OCC as a space for upcoming White Flag events.
“Part of the issue is, our homeless shelter doesn’t have a lot of spare room for social distancing, and we certainly don’t want to be bringing COVID into the homeless shelter, causing it to close down,” Mattingly said.
After consulting with St. Benedict’s Executive Director Harry Pedigo about the issue, Mattinglhy said OCC “stepped up to bat” and signed a contract with Fiscal Court that would allow their site to serve as the new White Flag shelter.
“The City of Owensboro and Daviess County Fiscal Court will split the cost,” Mattingly said. “When Andy came here, he took the whole thing in hand and has kind of shepherded [the White Flag warnings] himself.”
