VOA Gearing Up to Help During COVID-19 Crisis

Volunteers of America Northern Rockies is working on plans to provide help to those in need during the current COVID-19 crisis.

Jeff Holsinger, who’s CEO for the organization, said that includes everything from utility costs to food and help for those who find themselves homeless at this time.

He said the VOA already has in place a rapid rehousing model that is modeled after the organization’s veterans’ services.

Holsinger said that program is already seeing a 25 percent higher utilization than in the past.

He said the pandemic is hard in particular on young adults with no family safety net and little savings who, because of business closures across the state, are out out of work right now. Holsinger said nationally, unemployment rates are 12 percent, and unemployment rates of 15 percent are being predicted.

Holsinger said food will be another consideration, and VOA personnel are having discussions about how to provide that, whether in meals or food boxes, for example. He said the VOA has distributed food boxes in the past.

People who are homeless or facing imminent homelessness, or who need assistance to maintain independence, are asked to call the VOA at (307) 672-0475.

Holsinger said the goal of the VOA is to be there to provide whatever help people need at this time, and to help them quickly.