CarePoint Health will allow the Hudson County Improvement Authority to use two of their non-medical buildings in Jersey City during the coronavirus pandemic, including their nursing school, the provide underserved populations – like the homeless – treatment.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
According to CarePoint spokesman Eric Bloom, they had reached out to the HCIC and the New Jersey Department of Health to offer the use of two buildings: 169 Palisade Ave., CarePoint’s nursing school, and 112-14 Palisade Ave. – a former daycare center.
“After review and evaluation, an agreement was made between for the Christ Hospital owners to provide Hudson County Improvement Authority with access to those buildings to be used by the county to address the coronavirus pandemic,” Bloom explained in an email.
“The county intends to use the old nursing school building as a facility to assist, among others, the homeless diagnosed with COVID-19 and to help halt the spread of the virus. They will also take over the entire facility and hire workers. CarePoint will assist in any way possible to help minimize the spread of COVID-19.”
Bloom also noted that neither building is currently occupied.
On Tuesday, Hudson County spokesman Jim Kennelly referred to the building as “a step-down unit” for homeless individuals demonstrating mild symptoms, who would be released from the hospital to recover at home if they had a stable residence.
He also said that Alliance Community Health will be a third partner in this endeavor.
Furthermore, the HCIA will lease space from CarePoint to create a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center for up to 100 patients at a time with an estimated monthly cost of $296,000 a month, Kennelly added.
“I believe this is a sensible way to ensure that our hospitals can focus on providing critical care and our homeless shelters remain truly safe havens for those in need of them,†said Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise said in a statement.
“I want to thank the leadership of CarePoint Health, the City of Jersey City and our
dedicated team from the Hudson County Department of Family Services and the HCIA who put this together. This unit will help stop the spread of COVID-19. It will save lives.â€
Last week, the City of Jersey City announced that their Department of Health and Human Services was expanding what they were able to offer their homeless population during this public health crisis.
Minutes ago, state officials announced that there are now 1,314 coronavirus cases – 289 more than yesterday – in Hudson County, with 16,636 confirmed cases throughout New Jersey.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.
