VOAPA's Response to COVID-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Volunteers of America Statement on Our Response to COVID-19

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 16, 2020—Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania (VOAPA) is an organization dedicated to helping people thrive and live strong, healthy lives. As such, we take the threat posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) seriously, especially for residents living in our homeless shelter, transitional, supportive, and permanent housing. The safety of residents and staff remains our primary concern. We continue to follow recommended protocols and actions from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, local health departments and the CDC to keep up with any new information. We will continue to collaborate with these agencies to support the health and safety of our residents, staff and the broader communities where we work.

We have taken a number of steps to help slow the spread of the virus and protect our employees, our communities and those we serve directly. This includes restricting access after screening to our homeless shelter and transitional housing to only residents, staff and others who have an essential function. Staff members across our organization who do not directly provide client services have been instructed to work remotely, for their safety and that of vulnerable people they may encounter.

As always, our focus is to ensure the safety of residents, staff, and communities as we continue providing services with minimal disruption.