Temporarily Closed Due to Coronavirus

Dear Friends of Circle of Hope,

We continue closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in our area. We are deeply concerned about homeless families and individuals, most of whom are considered "high risk" for coronavirus due to underlying health conditions or close proximity to others in shelter. Circle of Hope sent extra hand soap to our partner shelters for more than a month to reduce the spread of the virus and keep this vulnerable population healthy.

To protect homeless individuals as well as our volunteers, donors, and staff, Circle of Hope is now closed to the public. We cannot accept clothing donations at this time.

The staff is working strategically behind the scenes to continue to help the vulnerable families and individuals we serve in our partner shelters and clinics. We will continue monitoring recommendations from the CDC and state officials and we look forward to re-opening for donation drop-offs when it is safer to do so. Please keep an eye on your email inbox, social media, and our website for further updates from Circle of Hope.

In the meantime, please know how deeply grateful I am to you for your support and dedication to our mission. You have made it possible for us to respond to emergencies and provide additional soap and toiletries during this crisis. Thanks to you, we have provided enough clothing and necessities to our partner shelters to get them through the next month.  

I am constantly inspired by your unwavering generosity, compassion, and dedication to helping people who are homeless. Thank you.

Most gratefully,

Barbara Waterhouse, Executive Director

Homeless individuals at "heightened risk"

There are currently at least 92 cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, in Massachusetts, and Governor Baker declared a state of emergency yesterday. People staying in homeless shelters are at "heightened risk" of contracting this potentially deadly illness.

COVID-19 spreads quickly among people in close proximity to each other. Circle of Hope's partner shelters house between 20-400 individuals every night.

With higher rates of chronic health conditions like diabetes and heart disease, the homeless people we serve are at greater risk of getting severely ill, requiring hospitalization, or dying from COVID-19. People over 60 and those with underlying health conditions are considered most at-risk.

"I'm very worried right now about vulnerable populations," said Helen Branswell, an infectious disease and public health reporter for STAT. "I'm worried about people who stay in homeless shelters."

Our partner shelters are taking steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by frequently cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and educating their clients about the illness. Circle of Hope is sending an extra supply of hand soap and towels to protect homeless families and individuals during this public health crisis. As Branswell said,

"...this is a time when we're really going to need to help each other."

URGENT need for hand soap

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Please help us protect homeless families and individuals

Our partner shelters desperately need liquid hand soap to help prevent the spread of illness during the current public health crisis. Our usual suppliers have increased their prices and store shelves are emptying rapidly.

Please help us protect homeless individuals from illness by donating new, unopened bottles of liquid hand soap (any size) as soon as possible. Please place your donations of soap into the small rolling cart labeled "Go-To Crew" and tell a volunteer you are donating soap.

Can’t make it to the store? Ship soap and hand towels directly to Circle of Hope through our Emergency Response Wish List on Amazon. To view the list and purchase items, click here.

New Clinic Partnerships

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Circle of Hope is expanding its health clinic partnerships! Already this year, we launched new pilot partnerships with two healthcare centers serving homeless individuals: Bowdoin Health Center in Dorchester and the Dimock Center in Roxbury.

We made our first delivery to Bowdoin Health Center in early January, bringing six Welcome Baby Bags and infant clothing to the homeless newborns receiving care. A mom with newborn twins was overjoyed and especially grateful for the warm blankets because the shelter rooms are so cold. We are working closely with the Community Health Workers to help homeless infants thrive in their early months and monitor the success of the Pilot Program over the next six months.

Our first delivery to the Dimock Center took place in early February. We provided clothing, toiletries, and Welcome Baby items to their "Women's Renewal - Clinical Stabilization Services" program. By providing essentials for health and dignity, we help homeless women who are recovering from substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and trauma. After our first delivery, a clinician at the Dimock Center said:

"Words cannot express how thankful we are for your contribution. You went over the top and for that we thank you as well as from the clients. Thank you does not cover it."

We're excited to partner with these two healthcare clinics and we're proud to serve more women and infants who are homeless and need our help.

Thank you for coming to our Open House!

On Saturday, January 25, Circle of Hope hosted an Open House celebrating our recent move to Needham Center.

More than 125 people stopped by to see our new Highland Avenue location and learn more about Circle of Hope. Staff, Board members, and volunteers were onsite to answer questions and give a behind-the-scenes look at how Circle of Hope serves homeless infants, children, women, and men. We were thrilled to see many familiar faces of volunteers and repeat donors and we were excited to meet many new guests as well!

We’re very grateful to the Needham Women’s Club for sponsoring the event! Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday.

Helping Homeless College Students "flourish and thrive"

 
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At 18, Fox arrived in Boston after fleeing an abusive home in Florida. He got a job as a bank teller, rented a room in a single-family residence in Revere, and enrolled at Bunker Hill Community College. But his wages weren’t enough to cover his rising rent. Suddenly homeless but not wanting to drop out of college, Fox spent evenings at Logan Airport, sleeping in a hidden spot under an escalator.

Fox's experience is not unique. At least 32,000 college students were homeless in 2017. These numbers are underreported and don’t reflect shadowed homelessness--students too scared or ashamed to admit they’ve been sleeping in cars or abandoned buildings, and skipping meals to pay for other necessities, like soap.

This year, Circle of Hope launched “Get Set,” a program dedicated to helping homeless college students stay healthy so they can pursue an education. We bring clothing, coats, and toiletries to students experiencing homelessness at Framingham State University (FSU), the University of Massachusetts Boston, and MassBay Community College. Through "Get Set," Circle of Hope ensures that these students no longer have to choose between food and other everyday essentials like soap or toothpaste.

One FSU student said Circle of Hope helped her "flourish and thrive." She felt like she “belonged with the other students." Because of Circle of Hope, she could participate in school activities with confidence, now that she had two pairs of jeans, tops, new underwear and socks, and sneakers.

Now 23, Fox is in his final year at Brandeis University, where he is double majoring in biological physics and chemistry. Fox and students like him turned to higher education to escape poverty. Your support allows us to help these vulnerable students pursue their dreams.

Thanks to you, Circle of Hope can bring health, dignity, and hope to children, adults, and now college students who are homeless. Please donate to our Annual Campaign by December 31, 2019 to give homeless college students a better chance to reach their true potential.

November 2019 News from Circle of Hope

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Our November newsletter is out and it’s full of great news! Click here to read about our move to Needham Center happening next week, our Annual Campaign launching this month, a recent emergency response at Circle of Hope, an exciting new grant, and more!

Circle of Hope | 1329 Highland Ave. Suite 3, Needham, MA 02492

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