The Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition will open a warming shelter at the Chattanooga Community Kitchen this winter, using personal protective equipment and physical barriers to minimize the risk of COVID-19.
According to a news release on Thursday, the shelter will open on nights when temperatures are expected to sustain at 35 degrees or below, as the organization has done for years, averaging some 90 people per night.
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However, as the county faces increasing numbers of COVID-19 infections, the coalition worked with the Hamilton County Health Department to develop a plan including temperature checks, hand sanitizer, personal protective equipment and barrier walls to curtail spread at the shelter.
“Our main goal is to get through this winter without a significant COVID or flu outbreak in the homeless population,” Executive Director Wendy Winters said in the release.