NOWCS Announces Zero COVID Cases Among Residents Since Pandemic’s Onset
Over a full year in, shelter credits strictly adhering to CDC and Department of Health guidelines, vigilant staff and residents
NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 23, 2021) – The New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter (NOWCS) is pleased to announce that in the more than one year since the statewide stay-at-home order was first enacted, it has had zero reported COVID-19 cases among residents. The only homeless shelter for intact families and the largest homeless shelter for women and children in the metro area, NOWCS has been able to keep its doors open and residents safe amid the ongoing pandemic by adhering strictly to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) guidance and safety protocols.
“This past year was not easy — not for shelter staff, not for our community and definitely not for residents and friends who are experiencing homelessness,” said Dawn Bradley-Fletcher, executive director of NOWCS. “However, through early adoption and strict enforcement of CDC COVID guidelines, constant communication with local authorities and a strong relationship of trust between staff and residents, we were able to remain open to serve the community the entire time and do so without a single case of COVID among our residents. This is an accomplishment we are incredibly proud of.”
Since 2007, the Shelter has helped more than 3,250 parents and their children recovering from homelessness transition to safe, affordable housing. Over the past 12 months, NOWCS was able to serve over 275 people experiencing homelessness, house more than 47 families and serve over 205 people through its post residence case management program. Community support from numerous individuals and organizations — including Entergy, The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation and The Goldring Family Foundation — enabled the Shelter to extend the additional support and maintain a safe and clean environment amid the ongoing pandemic.
“While we are thrilled with all we’ve been able to accomplish over the past year, we know there are over 2,000 children in our community still experiencing housing insecurity, and we know there is more work to be done,” said Bradley-Fletcher. “Since our fundraising efforts were greatly impacted amid the pandemic, we ask that people consider donating to the Shelter, so we can continue to help our friends and neighbors as best we can. Community support is critical to our success.”
Committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness while keeping families together through coordinated, family-centered support and services, NOWCS’ programs are designed to benefit every aspect of work and family life. These programs include education enrichment for parents and children, employment assistance, job training and placement, financial literacy workshops, a savings match and life skills training, and much more.
To find out how you can support New Orleans families experiencing homelessness, please visit www.nowcs.org/support. For more information about the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter, visit www.nowcs.org, or find the organization on Facebook (@NOWCS), Twitter or Instagram (@NOWCShelter).