FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 3, 2020
Full Blast Begins Offering Overnight Shelter for Men
During Coronavirus Pandemic
In an effort to create better physical distance for those in the community staying in homeless shelters, the Haven of Rest Ministries will move the public drop-in overnight shelter to the city’s Full Blast facility. Hours will be 11 p.m.-7 a.m., and the Full Blast overnight shelter is for men only.

The change begins tonight, April 3. The Haven’s regular men’s shelter remains open, as does the Inasmuch House family and children shelter. The Inasmuch House overnight women’s shelter remains open from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. at the Haven of Rest site.

Since Monday, March 23, the SHARE Center has operated its day shelter for homeless individuals at Full Blast. Again, this is to create the at-least six feet of recommended physical distance between people, and still serve the homeless in our community. Both day and night shelters are capped at 50 people, though they have not reached capacity so far, nor do they anticipate doing so.

SHARE Center and city staff will continue to operate the day shelter, monitoring from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Haven and city staff will operate and monitor the overnight shelter from 9 p.m.-7 a.m.

Men using the day shelter will be able to stay for the overnight hours; those who did not use the Full Blast day shelter can access it overnight from 11 p.m.-7 a.m.

SHARE Center staff will continue to provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Full Blast for those staying there. Those who have other shelter can visit the SHARE Center at 120 Grove St. for carry-out meals. Breakfast is 9:30-10:30 a.m. every morning except Saturday; lunch is noon-1 p.m., with Saturday brunch 11 a.m.-noon; and dinner is 5:30-6:30 p.m. daily, with Friday dinner 6-7 p.m.

The city and shelter teams also will create access to showers during the day for those using the Full Blast shelter. The teams are still working out the details.

Haven staff continue their efforts to transition those in need to permanent housing.

To contribute to this and other community efforts addressing COVID-19, please fill out a United Way volunteer form at changethestory.org/volunteer , or make a monetary donation to the United Way Disaster Relief Fund at portal.gkuw.org/drf .
***

For updates from Calhoun County, about County operations and COVID-19 in Calhoun County, visit the County website,  calhouncountymi.gov.

For updates from the City of Battle Creek, please visit  battlecreekmi.gov/coronavirus .

The State’s COVID-19 Hotline is available for anyone who has questions or concerns related to the virus. The hotline is open seven days a week from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 1-888-535-6136. For state COVID-19 information, visit  michigan.gov/coronavirus.
For information, contact
Lucy Blair, Calhoun County Communications Manager
269-781-0926,  lblair@calhouncountymi.gov

Jessica Vanderkolk, City of Battle Creek Communications Manager