Delta Haven and Welcome Center relieve homeless shelters in COVID-19 crisis

Following concerns about a possible spread of COVID-19 among the homeless population, two additional shelters have been opened by the City of El Paso and operated by the Opportunity Center for the Homeless. 

"It's gone extremely well," said John Martin, director of the Opportunity Center. "We're taking a good amount of people, receiving from six to 10 a day."

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The two facilities, Delta Welcome Center and Delta Haven, are located on 4451 and 4321 Delta Drive at the Chalio Acosta Sports Center and Hilos de Plata Senior Center — locations owned by El Paso Parks and Recreation Department.

The additional emergency shelters will allow the Opportunity Center to follow social distancing rules while still serving homeless individuals at their main shelter at Myrtle Avenue, according to a news release.

The two centers had received in average 120 residents per night after almost two weeks since their opening.

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The opening of facilites was coordinated with the support the City of El Paso, the Office of Emergency Management and nonprofit partners the Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, El Paso Coalition for the Homeless, Endeavors, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, the Paso Del Norte Community Foundation and United Way.

Those in need of services will spend six days at the Delta Welcome Center,where they will receive appropriate screening and isolation accommodations.

"We're trying to create during this pandemic crisis one point of entry into the system," said Camille Castillo program director of the El Paso Coalition for the Homeless. 

Residents get their temperature checked daily and if they don't present any symptoms they are referred to shelters that fit their necessities as a family, elderly person, or single individual, Castillo said.