Vulnerable individuals and families receive accessible COVID-19 tests and vaccines through a partnership between Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP), and Visit Healthcare.
As the number of COVID-19 cases among those experiencing homelessness in Anchorage rose last summer, our Supportive Housing Director Rob Marx searched for resources to keep our tenants and community safe. He was soon put in contact with Visit Healthcare (Visit). Since then, Visit has administered weekly tests at all five of our Supportive Housing facilities and has coordinated with our Outreach Specialists to test unsheltered individuals in Anchorage.
Visit has been in the healthcare business for over 30 years helping to care for patients with tens of thousands of medical providers. Beginning in early 2020, seeing a need for more COVID-19 testing options across the U.S., Visit pivoted its resources and efforts to solely concentrate on the dispersion of COVID-19 testing. In Anchorage, they have worked with underserved populations at locations like retirement homes, Bean’s Café, and homeless shelters.
Given the success of regular testing, we coordinated with Visit when vaccines became more widely available. Now, Supportive Housing tenants at our facilities have had the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, in addition to 28 unsheltered individuals.
“We are so grateful for our partnership with Visit,” said Marx. “Their services have tremendously impacted our COVID-19 response, helping keep our clients and community safe.”
Visit representative, Barbara Brena, in turn stated “RurAL CAP’s staff have been integral to our success. They have helped us reach and engage with various vulnerable populations. We are truly grateful for the coordination that has made this possible.”
As the world continues to recover from the impact of COVID-19, we will continue to offer critical support to those affected by the pandemic.
This story was featured by:
Alaska Business Magazine
