[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 27, 2020]

Hello,

On Monday, the City of Memphis issued a “Safer at Home” order. Unfortunately, the people we serve don’t have a home to retreat to under this new policy. As we continued to operate an emergency shelter this week, housing 20 – 25 women each night, we were also connecting with local hotels to secure housing options that would provide accommodations that comply with the Safer at Home order. This has been a community effort and we want to thank First Presbyterian Church who hosted us, Room In The Inn for coordinating their supporters, and everyone who donated meals and supplies.

Starting today, with the support of Memphis’ Division of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) hotel voucher program, we are grateful to be moving each woman from our emergency shelter to a hotel where they will have their own room. 

We expect the program’s limited number of vouchers will be fully claimed by Monday. With unemployment on the rise and newly homeless clients coming into the Hub every day, we know the demand for housing in the coming weeks will only increase. Our hotel partners have agreed to reserve an additional 126 hotel rooms that can be filled at $40 per room per night.

We’re asking you to help us cover the following costs:

  • Additional individual or family hotel rooms at $40 per night or $66 with meals

  • Additional security at $500 per day

  • Increased staff presence of 24/7 to coordinate meals to guests, make regular check-ins on their emotional and physical wellbeing, and ensure compliance with Safer at Home orders

Our team is stretched thin but also continues to provide basic services at 82 N 2nd Street, allowing one guest into the building at a time, delivering mail to the homeless community, and issuing on average 30 shelter vouchers per day to our male clients.

Volunteers interested in supporting this effort may donate online or send a check to the Hospitality Hub at 82 N. 2nd Street, Memphis, TN 38103.

Donate here to help us offer hotel rooms to the homeless!

Thanks for all you do, and stay safe.