COVID-19 Update - City Gospel Mission

Updated June 4, 2020

Here’s an update on how we are taking extra measures to ensure the safety of our shelter guests, staff and volunteers as we navigate the pandemic.

KPS Global, a company in Texas, generously donated and installed partitions in our shelter’s dorm rooms to add an extra layer of safety for the guests.

Says our President Roger Howell, “The KPS partitions have enabled us to increase our shelter capacity back to 74 guests. They feel safer, and they love the added privacy. We are amazed and very grateful that this company 1,000 miles from Cincinnati heard about our need and filled it.”

Also, we have installed tents around bottom bunks, moved beds into our day room, and spread out the chairs in our dining room, classroom and chapel.

As we move forward, we will remain vigilant with distancing, cleaning and using protective gear. Your support is vital to providing the resources to keep our guests safe, so we greatly appreciate all that you do.

See the video of Roger’s latest update:

Updated April 3, 2020

With 74 men staying at our shelter, social distancing has been effectively impossible. So Wednesday, April 1 we moved half of our shelter guests to a hotel for the foreseeable future.

Our staff will be at the hotel 24 hours a day to feed and care for the guests and continue activities.

Said our president, Roger Howell: “This move is necessary to ensure the safety of our guests, staff and volunteers. Our staff will continue to care for our guests at the hotel the same way as if they were staying in our shelter, making sure they have everything they need. We are so blessed to have such generous people in our community. You have overwhelmingly poured out your collective heart to help the homeless and hurting during this crisis, for which they and we are very thankful.”

How you can help

Please pray for protection over City Gospel Mission and the guests we serve, many of whom have underlying health issues that put them at greater risk.

Please give. To provide the homeless with critical services like meals, shelter and care, they are relying on your and our help. Will you help them now when they need it most by giving to City Gospel Mission today? To give, click here.

Please donate goods. We are in great need of these supplies for our guests in both the hotel and the shelter: plastic utensils, to-go boxes for meals, hand sanitizer, laundry soap, men’s toiletries, new (still in packaging) men’s socks, undershirts and underwear, bleach, gloves, paper towels, disinfectant wipes/sprays, food and coffee. Our Recovery program is in need of: chicken, fish, fresh fruit, canned goods, frozen vegetables, cleaning supplies, gloves and masks. All donations can be dropped off at 1805 Dalton Avenue. When you arrive on the property park your car and call the number on signage in the parking lot. Staff will come out to your vehicle to take the donations. Donors do not need to leave their vehicles. Please note: Because of the dangers of COVID-19, we cannot accept used clothing or non-essential donations at this time. Please donate only food and the essential items listed above in this paragraph. We may have to turn away well intended donations to provide the highest possible degree of safety for our residents and staff. Thank you for your understanding!

Thank you for your continued support during this difficult time.

Please watch this 1-minute video of the move to the hotel and hear VP Paul Spence explain it.

Updated March 19, 2020

Dear friend,

Isaiah 42:6 states: “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.”

Especially during these trying times, City Gospel Mission will live out this Scripture. We will answer God’s call. We will let Him take us by the hand. We will be a light to the people we serve.

At City Gospel Mission we help the homeless and hurting break the cycle of poverty and despair…one life at a time. Helping those in need has been our mission since 1924 and we will continue to serve the people who are relying on us! It’s vital at this time to be that light we are called to be. They are looking to us to continue to be a positive and loving friend.

To date, no known cases of the coronavirus have been identified at City Gospel Mission facilities. To ensure the safety of our guests, staff and volunteers, we are following CDC recommendations for best practices for our shelter. We have developed emergency response plans and other protective measures including but not limited to:

We are implementing social distancing measures and additional cleaning routines in our shelter and other facilities.
We have asked volunteers who are part of the vulnerable population for this virus (i.e.: over age of 60 or have current health conditions), to not come to the shelter during this uncertain time.
We have asked some staff who are able to work from home to do so.
We have rescheduled or cancelled all events and group programming until at least April 30.
We are closely following directives from local and state leaders so we can act swiftly if need be.

As public places close where the homeless hang out during the day, like libraries, parks and public facilities, we anticipate more people needing meals and services. Our doors will not close and we will continue to serve some of the most vulnerable in our city. The people we serve need your help right now and in the coming months more than ever.

Please pray for protection over City Gospel Mission and the guests we serve, many of whom have underlying health issues that put them at greater risk.

Please volunteer. We have a need for volunteers to provide meals for our shelter residents. Meals can be prepared in our kitchen, or dropped off at the shelter. For everyone’s safety, we are limiting volunteer interactions with shelter guests. If you do volunteer with us to prepare meals at our shelter in the coming months, you must be under the age of 60 and healthy (no underlying health conditions and not been around anyone who is sick). To volunteer or learn more, click here. Questions? Email handerson@citygospelmission.org.

Please donate goods. Please consider helping in other ways. We are in great need of donated food and supplies to so we can create bagged lunches. Learn more about food items needed here. We also need thermometers, bleach, gloves, paper towels, disinfectant wipes/sprays, and hand sanitizer. Items can be dropped off at 1805 Dalton Avenue.

Thank you for remaining faithful with your support and prayers. Most importantly, thank you for standing firm on God’s promises with us. He is good and faithful.

In His Service,
Roger Howell

President