MORGANTOWN,W.Va. – A group of non-profits, elected leaders, health professionals and the local Motel 6 are mobilizing an effort to safely house the homeless through the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Mon County commission, Milan Puskar Health Right, The Friendship Room, Bartlett House United Way of Mon & Preston County, MECCA 911, Mon Health and WVU Medicine plan to house 20 less fortunate people for the next four to six weeks during the pandemic.
“Health Right, with Laura Jones during regular business hours, has people from the Friendship Room and Health Right that will vet the individuals and work with them to see if they meet the qualifications,”Mon County commissioner Tom Bloom said on WAJR’s Talk of the Town,”Then they have to fill out and sign a contract.”
Just like the 15 Homes for 15 Families over the holidays there are conditions for those being housed.
“They will also have to abide by the motel rules and not allowing more than five people to come in,”Bloom said,”We’ll be monitoring that and making sure they have what they need to make through the six weeks.”
Bloom says the Motel 6 management was key in getting the deal done.
“Motel 6 will be providing breakfast for them and we are working on a lunch and dinner program for them,”Bloom said.
The plan will allow for a quarantined area for people with the virus and another area for those who are negative.
“We’re not just putting them out there and leaving them, we will have people working them to determine any special needs,”Bloom said,”It’s an ongoing process.”