Atlanta Homeless Service Providers Struggle With Hand Sanitizer Supply
Dwindling supplies of things like hand sanitizer are making the work of homeless service providers in Atlanta even more difficult.
Elaine Thompson / Associated Press
As worries grow over the coronavirus, stores are running out of basic things, like hand sanitizer. The dwindling supplies are making the work of homeless service providers in Atlanta even more difficult.
Intown Collaborative Ministries serves the people who’ve lived outside for some time and don’t seek services anywhere else.
They might stay alone under an overpass or in an encampment. Either way, they almost certainly don’t have soap and water. That makes them vulnerable to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
So executive director Brad Schweers said his teams have been trying to bring hand sanitizer. But they quickly started to go through their usual supply.
Schweers said there aren’t really other solutions to help people who are staying on the streets.
“A few days ago, we had been taking out some soap and, you know, gallons of water, but our folks are walking, a gallon of water is pretty heavy. That doesn’t go very far,” he said.
For now, Intown Collaborative is getting help from a local business. Old Fourth Ward distillery is making hand sanitizer for the organization out of its own alcohol.
Schweers said now he has concerns about other supplies, like disinfectant spray and simple food. Intown Collaborative also runs a food pantry.
And his organization is still working to convey the gravity of the situation to the people they serve, who are already dealing with rain, encampment sweeps and chronic health conditions.
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