Jan & Peter’s Place (JPP) is now fully COVID-compliant after undergoing a redesign like the rest of our 24/7 enhanced emergency shelter programs, Otto’s Place, Pioneer Square Men’s Program, and the Blaine Center. During the redesign, guests stayed at the Blaine Center that was also recently updated. They have just moved back into JPP in the last couple weeks.
Charlene Mitchell, the Program Manager, talked about what this redesign means for our guests.
What does JPP do?
Charlene: JPP is a 24/7 enhanced emergency shelter program for people identifying as female. Guests are assigned individual sleeping spaces that include individual storage and COVID-compliant public areas.We are working with the ladies to help them overcome their barriers, whether that is drugs or alcohol, getting their social security, or any other things that keep them from getting permanent housing. We also have a mental health professional that comes three times a week. Also, UW comes in three times a week to provide COVID testing, and we are working the details out to try and get vaccines set up as well.
We have housing navigators that work with our guests. They are pretty much like a case manager. They are working with individuals and the individual barriers they may have. Navigators are finding permanent housing for our guests that are tailored for their own individual needs. Some of the guests need group housing, some need individual housing. Whatever is best for them is what we do. Last year, despite the challenges that the pandemic brought on, we continued to find ways to permanently house our shelter guests, we are very proud of that accomplishment.
JPP is a place to come and get rest. It’s important for our guests. We’ve built a community here and people get to know each other and become friends. We are also excited that we just started a new partnership with FareStart and their culinary program.
What changes have been made in this redesign?
We took away bunk beds and put in individual sleeping spaces. We’ve also added back a community area that is COVID-compliant. We have an eating area enhanced with separators, 24/7 access to showers, laundry, and we also have a big deck outside.
We also reworked the kitchen area with brand new cabinets and now we have more space to walk around.
Moving from bunkbeds to individual sleeping spaces was the biggest change and the ladies have really responded positively to having their own spaces.
What does this redesign mean for the guests at JPP?
This was just an overall safety improvement. We now have the room to move around, and the guests have their own individual spaces. When the ladies first came in, there was just a feeling of calmness. JPP is not only a safe place to stay, but it is a place to get healthy.
How can people support the work that JPP does?
There are always things that are needed. There’s never a moment when we couldn’t use hygiene products, jackets, blankets, and what I would really love is to have someone give our guests some financial or life skills type of training. Anyone interested can reach out to our Community Engagement Manager Jennifer Marquette at volunteer@compasshousingalliance.org.