Contributed photo
Contributed photo
A Schaumburg hotel has opened its doors to the residents of an Aurora homeless shelter.
Two hundred people from Hesed House were bused to their temporary home on April 13, which Hesed House Executive Director Ryan Dowd called a model for other hoteliers to go by as they deal with unfilled rooms because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upon arrival in Schaumburg, each resident was assigned a room, the Beacon-News reported. The state paid for boxed meals delivered to the rooms three times a day, and the residents have their laundry cleaned for them.
Hesed House Managing Director Joe Jackson said the move was done in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Most of the residents were elated to have a respite provided by the shelter, while others were understandably anxious. Hesed House Director of Volunteers Bruce Bachmeier said the residents overall were thankful.
Bachmeier and Dowd temporarily sheltered at Hesed House so they would not jeopardize the health of their respective families. Bachmeier said case managers were on hand to talk to any client with pressing concerns.
Hesed House resident Rickey Beasley, age 63, did his part to lift the spirits of others during the move. Beasley considered it a “paid vacation” and told his fellow residents to think the same, the Beacon-News reported. He praised Hesed House for their response to the coronavirus.
This was the first time Hesed House had to fully vacate its Aurora facility. Staffers praised Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain for helping facilitate the transfer.
According to Jackson, the organization was happy “to be the guinea pig” in Illinois’ decision to house the homeless in hotels.
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