Dallas, TX – Friday, April 17, 2020 – Late this morning Dr. David Woody, President and CEO of The Bridge, was made aware of a COVID-19 outbreak at another local shelter in Dallas through our partnership with the City of Dallas Office of homeless Solutions. Our hearts go out to our sister shelter and their Guests who have tested positive.

The Bridge implemented multiple precautionary initiatives on our campus for our Guests and employees before Dallas County first issued a shelter-in-place order on March 22, 2020. Those expectations remain the same and as the resources become available, more initiatives are set to begin.

The steps we have taken to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak have been effective and are key in helping to keep our campus an infection free zone for both Guests and employees.

Extreme cleanliness and disinfecting procedures have been set in place. Our Cleaning Team has hired an additional temporary staff member to assist specifically with disinfecting touch items, such as door handles and handrails. Our day-to-day cleaning employees have implemented increased preventative measures for deep cleaning, sanitation, and hygiene. Every day, 7 days a week, for 8 hours, there is one person dedicated exclusively to disinfecting on campus. A generous supply of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes have been placed around campus, easily accessible for our Guests and employee use. A recent donation of masks has enabled us to require all Guests and employees to wear masks while on campus.

Social distancing is being implemented on our campus. We have increased spacing between Night Shelter beds to comply with mandated social distancing standards. The number of chairs in our Dining Hall have been decreased allowing for spacing of only 3 Guests per table, rather than our normal six. Guests are being encouraged to maintain a safe distance from others in respite areas, asked to sit further away from their Care Manager in meetings, offered access to phones for virtual calls with resources such as Workforce Solutions of North Texas, and to stand behind the taped lines around campus. Visitors, like volunteers and other groups, are prohibited from being on campus at this time.

Guests and staff are being provided accurate and up-to-date information regularly. We are overcommunicating with our Guests and employees to ensure that all possess the information they need regarding COVID-19 and our current procedures. In addition to communicating at Town Halls, signage is placed around the campus for Guests to refer to for details on sanitization and preventing COVID-19. Employees have been given tools and resources necessary to stay sensitive to our initiatives.

Employees are engaged in recognizing symptoms and identifying if a Guest is presenting symptoms. One identification marker of COVID-19 is a fever; Guests and employees are required to have their temperature taken before entrance to campus. Employees are also trained to recognize if a Guest presents with an unusual cough or shortness of breath.

The Bridge is taking COVID-19 materials and evidence-based guidance very seriously. The safety and health of our campus is of upmost importance during this time. We appreciate the generosity of our community that make these efforts possible.

For more information about this announcement, please feel free to contact Devon Welborn, Marketing and Communication Manager of The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center at (214)670-4560 or dwelborn@bridgenorthtexas.org.

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About The Bridge For 12 years The Bridge has facilitated recovery from homelessness for individuals without a home in Dallas County, twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week. The only shelter in Dallas providing Day and Night Shelter Services, The Bridge offers basic need services including hot showers, meals, haircuts, Physical Health Evaluations and Mental Health Assessments for over 800 guests every day. Through collaborative relationships with homeless services partners, The Bridge creates a one-stop-shop experience enhancing a guest’s ability to implement a Care and Housing Plan, or strategy for exiting homelessness. Learn more at www.bridgenorthtexas.org.