Dozen Homeless ​“Drop In” On Triage Tent

While on his daily stroll around East Rock, Ruben Thompson Jr., 61, found himself welcomed by on-site services for the homeless like food, a face mask, toiletries, hand sanitizer, and clothing at the new Blake Field Drop-in Center.

The pop-up Covid-19 triage center in Blake Field for the homeless serviced about 12 people for its opening day on Wednesday

“Since the pandemic, the regular services for the homeless are more limited, so this pop-up shelter is significant in providing public protection,” said the city’s Community Services Administrator Dr. Mehul Dalal.

Starting this week the tent will operate Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m to 4 p.m in Blake Field opposite the East Rock Community Magnet School.

“I’m going to tell all my people to stop by here,” said Thompson (pictured above) after leaving the tent with a fresh pair of socks, a T‑shirt, a turkey sandwich from Zoi’s cafe, two face mask, and a bar of soap.

Thompson has lived in New Haven for 46 years. He recently moved back to the area eight months ago after living in New York for some time.

After receiving service from the center Thompson walked off towards the Wilbur Cross football field to feed the geese as he does weekly, with his shopping cart full of gardening tools and collected plastic bottles.

The center is staffed by two to four volunteers a day and two to three medical professionals from Liberty Community Services, Columbus House, Sex Workers and Allies Network (SWAN), Connecticut Mental Health Center, Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, United Way of Greater New Haven, and The Connection — Center for Behavioral Health Chapel Street. Each organization has scheduled days throughout the week for its medical staff members on site.

Site coordinator Sam Greenberg was on-site to be a point of contact for the medical staff and volunteers.

Volunteers

Yale students Shunella Leumas and Ify Chikezie heard of the volunteer opportunity at the center through previous connections, Leumas from previously working with Greenberg and Chikezie from previous work with the SWAN.

With more time on their hands during the pandemic, the two both decided they wanted to help others, particularly those who are homeless.

“This population can easily be overlooked during a time like this especially,” Leumas said.

Last week Leumas and Chikezie both signed up for two-hour shifts for all three days this week. During their first shift, the pair was assigned food distribution.

Both 26, Leumas is a fourth-year medical student and Chikezie a first-year law student.

Aaron Troncoso and Caroline Van Der Mercue volunteered at the check-in table from 2 to 4 p.m.

Troncoso and Van Der Mercue both live in East Rock and therefore felt the need to support their community.

“This is happening right in my backyard. This is a small sacrifice that can help others a lot,” Van Der Mercue said.

At the check-in desk, the pair’s job was to welcome the visitors and assess what services they needed.

“I should be writing a paper, but I’d rather be doing this,” said Troncoso, a student at the Yale Law School.

Troncoso said he was surprised to see the center be brought to East Rock rather than a place like Downtown. Though the two agreed that they wanted to help their community to access the necessary services during the pandemic.

Those individuals who seek services from the center will have access to showers at East Rock Magnet School on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. Testing for Covid-19 will also be available to those who express concern and symptoms during a screening process that happens at check-in along with case management, medical and mental care.

While the center had a slow start it is expected to pick up as word spreads throughout the area.