Aurora’s Hesed House Relocates to Local Hotel

AURORA, IL — Aurora’s Hesed House homeless shelter has relocated to a nearby hotel to allow residents to remain safe and socially distanced after several people tested positive for the coronavirus at Illinois’ second largest shelter. More than 200 residents and staff members made the move on Monday, April 13.

The shelter announced its first case of the coronavirus on April 8, and Hesed House leaders soon after started working with local, county and state officials on relocation plans.

According to Hesed House Executive Director Ryan Dowd, the Illinois Department of Public Health said officials “should assume that every single person at Hesed House would get COVID” if they did not find a new space where residents could maintain proper social distance.

As of April 14, three residents and one staff member at Hesed House have tested positive for the coronavirus, and others are awaiting results, Dowd said.

“This action will save lives and it will absolutely help to flatten the curve for the entire state,” Dowd said in a video announcing the move.

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The state of Illinois leased the hotel for the shelter to move into on Monday, Dowd said in a video update from the new location. A move like the one Hesed House just made would normally take about six months to plan, but the shelter only had about 24 hours — and that was on Easter Sunday, Dowd said.

In the video, Dowd paid tribute to Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain, saying the “enormous undertaking” wouldn’t have been possible without his help. Kane County sheriffs drove buses carrying 20 people each from the shelter to the hotel, Dowd said. Officials did not disclose the location of the hotel that is now serving as a temporary shelter.

“In times like these, and in normal times, we have to look out for our most vulnerable population, right?” Hain told Dowd in the video. “Our homeless population, especially right now, is incredibly vulnerable. And we’re more than happy to step up and help.”

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Dowd called the temporary location "an absolute dream scenario" for limiting the spread of the coronavirus among residents and staff members, adding the shelter in Aurora was a "nightmare for disease control."

The hotel "is a great way to let the virus burn itself out," Dowd said. "It's fantastic. People can just stay in their room and stay safe."

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Though the state is picking up the bill for the hotel, Dowd said, Hesed House is still in need of donations of food, supplies and money.

“This is an incredibly expensive endeavor that we didn’t even remotely budget for,” Dowd said.

Monetary donations can be made at hesedhouse.org and food and supplies can be dropped off at Hesed House’s location at 659 S. River St. Hesed House officials are specifically asking for donations of single-serving, individually wrapped food items to limit residents’ exposure. The shelter will deliver donations each day to residents at the hotel, Dowd said.

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 14: 794 Deaths— Don't miss updates about precautions in the Aurora area as they are announced — Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.