PONTIAC, Mich. (WXYZ) — As the Coronavirus continues to spread in Michigan, a homeless shelter on Pontiac is doing its part to take care of those looking for help while protecting others in the shelter.
Grace Centers of Hope is taking certain measures to ensure people who work and stay at the shelter are safe during this uncertain time.
"One of the things we teach here is, you are your neighbors keeper," said Pastor Kent Clark, CEO of Grace Centers of Hope.
Grace Centers of Hope is a homeless shelter in Pontiac taking care of those who need it the most.
"We’re going to be doing a lot of things that families do at home," Clark said. "This is a home for many of them."
With concerns over COVID-19, the shelter has set up certain measures to ensure the people staying here are in good hands.
"We clean the building three or four times a day," Clark said. "Sterilizing everything, teaching our folks to wash their hands that many times or more during the day."
The facility is currently at 240 residents. The folks who come to the center to get help vary in age, some with underlying health conditions. At Grace Centers of Hope, they’re ensuring the most vulnerable to the virus are taken care of.
"We have given special attention to our older residents to separate them from the main group of people. Should it break out, we will isolate them," Clark said. "They won’t be put out in the street."
Pastor Clark says it’s important that we all come together during this trying time and take care of one another.
"It’s very important that we all see that we are in this together and the American people have to come together, not only the homeless, but all of us coming together to stop the spread of this virus," Pastor Clark said.
He added that they had to shut down several of their thrift stores and daycare center, but says they will continue to help those in need during the pandemic.
