September 09, 2024
Coronavirus | Kane County Chronicle
Coronavirus

Hesed House opens temporary shelter in Aurora warehouse using tents

By KANE COUNTY

Ryan Dowd, executive director at Hesed House homeless shelter in Aurora, said the new shelter converted from a warehouse is at 680 S. River St. in Aurora. (Ryan Dowd)

AURORA – Employees of Aurora's Hesed House homeless shelter have converted a warehouse into another shelter, according to a news release.

Ryan Dowd, shelter director, said the new shelter, which includes individual tents, will house healthy adults. The new shelter has a no-touch handwashing station, showers and a kitchen space. The tents all include sleeping bags and blankets.

The former adult shelter was converted to a house that would host potentially immunocompromised people, with every other bed occupied to practice social distancing, the release stated.

In a release, Dowd said that there has been an increase in residents during the day because libraries and other public places are closed, giving people nowhere else to go. The Hesed House plays movies on a projection screen during the day, and the Aurora Public Library dropped off books and DVDs for the residents.

The Hesed House is still accepting food donations. Groups and Individuals can drive up to the location at 659 River St. and leave their donations on the back of the parked truck.

For more information, visit the Hesed House website.