Tim Foley—
On Wednesday, April 8, Our Father’s House, an agency that provides shelters and other services to the homeless population of 31 towns across Northern Worcester County, announced the opening of a homeless-exclusive quarantine shelter at the former Immaculate Conception Church on Walnut Street in Fitchburg. 
The shelter, which is only one of eight of its kind in Massachusetts, will have showers, toilets, and hand washing stations on site.
This project is supported by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, as well as the City of Fitchburg.
In addition to the opening of a new quarantine shelter, Our Father’s House is still fully operational during the pandemic. Its outreach program continues to deliver gloves and masks to each of its locations. It also still offers evening meals, and its food pantry is open once a week for two hours.
While being fully operational, Our Father’s House has seen an influx of people looking for services. As insecurities rise among citizens who are unable to afford their rent due to the pandemic, the shelter’s evening meals have seen twice as many people come on a nightly basis. The food pantry is experiencing a similar increase, going from serving 200 people each time it’s open to 400 to 500.
For more information about the shelter or on how to get involved, please email [email protected].