Cambridge To Open Rindge & Latin School Gym To Shelter Homeless

CAMBRIDGE, MA — The War Memorial Recreation Center and Field House at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School will open as a temporary shelter for the homeless during the new coronavirus crisis, Councilor Marc McGovern announced Sunday.

The City Council will discuss the formal plan Monday night, McGovern said in a Facebook post, shortly after the city announced the first death related to the virus caused by COVID-19.

City Manager Louis DePasquale said in an email Monday that officials have been working to identify options to care for the homeless community or those unable to safely isolate or quarantine at their residence.

"Our goal was to identify a temporary emergency shelter location that would not take too long to prepare and would satisfy criteria laid out by our health care team," he said.

He said city leaders, including Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Assasd Sayah, MD, Chief Public Health Officer Claude Jacob and Police Commissioner Branville Bard, Jr.,vetted several options before deciding on the spot.

"[The] War Memorial Recreation Center is the only site ready and available to serve the emerging needs of this population and recommend its use for that purpose," he said.

The War Memorial Recreation Center is already the City’s designated emergency shelter site and a certified shelter location. It has the physical infrastructure to suit public health needs, including a variety of separable spaces, and secure off street and underground drop off access, he said.

He said the city could use a combination of private security for the interior and a dedicated team of Cambridge Police Officers to provide security for the surrounding community during its use.

As part of planning, the mayor has secured commitments from Harvard University and MIT to supplement additional classrooms, if needed, for the school if classes reconvened in May or June.

"Given the rapidly changing conditions surrounding COVID-19, and with Cambridge experiencing its first death this week, we must act now," said DePasquale. "Addressing the immediate needs of our sheltered and unsheltered populations protects the entire Cambridge community, our first responders, and our health care providers from preventable COVID-19 exposure."

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