COVID-19 Recovery Center Reopens Sept. 2

On Thursday, Sept. 2, the COVID-19 Recovery Center (CRC) reopens at 3485 Stanford Court in Boulder to serve unhoused individuals in Boulder County. The CRC operates under a partnership between Boulder County, the City of Boulder and the City of Longmont, in close collaboration with Boulder County Public Health.

At the CRC, individuals who are positive with COVID-19 or have symptoms can isolate while they recover. The CRC is not a walk-up service, and individuals are screened through a shelter or health providers to utilize this service. The CRC works with area shelters and health providers to transport individuals needing isolation and respite to the CRC, where they are provided with space for distancing, beds, meals, showers, laundry service and internet access. Individuals requiring medical care and supervision will be referred to hospitals.

“With the recent increase in COVID-19 cases among individuals in our community, the CRC will safeguard our unhoused population,” said Director of Boulder County Community Services Department and Chair of the Homeless Solutions for Boulder County Robin Bohannan. “We are thankful for the strong regional partners working together to once again stand-up the center when our community needs it.”

The original CRC opened in March 2020 as one of the first programs in the nation to create a non-medical space for individuals experiencing homelessness with a distanced space to recover from COVID-19. In its 15 months of operation the facility served 306 people. During this time, Boulder County shelters saw significantly lower rates of COVID-19 than other communities and had no reported COVID-19-related deaths in its unhoused population.

When the original CRC closed in June 2021, the county and its partners developed an interim plan to isolate symptomatic or positive individuals at a hotel. This plan included a threshold to reopen the CRC if needed based on the evolving course of the pandemic. Because of a recent increase in COVID-19 cases among unhoused individuals, primarily due to the Delta variant, the CRC is now reopening.

The CRC is run by staff from Boulder County and the City of Boulder with additional support from community volunteers. Volunteers assist staff in running the 24 hour, seven days a week facility. All volunteers receive training and Personal Protective Equipment.

“Volunteers were critical to the success of the first CRC in curbing the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” said Director of Housing and Human Services Kurt Firnhaber. “Once again, we are looking to volunteers to help our most vulnerable community members.”

Community members who would like to support this initiative by acting as screeners and providing on-site support, can learn more and sign-up to volunteer at Count Me in Boulder.

As part of its ongoing COVID-19 response, the City of Boulder, in partnership with the state, offers free vaccine clinics on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. at the Boulder Public Library Main Branch, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. All community members ages 12 and up are invited. COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and help protect people from serious illness and the Delta variant. For more information about vaccines and clinics, visit Boulder County’s website.

Learn more about the CRC by visiting the city’s website.