The Boulevard of Chicago was one of the first homeless service providers in Chicago to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to its residents and frontline workers as part of Illinois’ Phase 1B rollout. Nine qualified, at-risk residents and 21 essential employees were vaccinated with the first dose and scheduled for the second dose in 28 days. 

The COVID-19 Vaccine Team from PCC Community Wellness Center administered the vaccinations to the residents and staff at The Boulevard. PCC Community Wellness Center operates an on-site health clinic, including six physicians, at The Boulevard facility in East Garfield Park.

The Boulevard is the only medical respite care center in Illinois serving adults who are experiencing homelessness. Residents of The Boulevard receive acute medical care resulting from an illness and/or injury. As a result of their compromised health, the residents of The Boulevard have been hardest hit during this COVID-19 crisis, making them some of the most vulnerable men and women experiencing homelessness in Chicago.

Within the first six weeks of the pandemic, more than 50 percent of The Boulevard residents tested positive for COVID-19. The facility went into high alert, putting emergency measures in place to protect the health and safety of its residents and staff.

After more than 10 months of 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week vigilance to the protection of its residents from the virus, the frontline workers and leadership of The Boulevard view the COVID-19 vaccine as a welcome sign of relief.

“Our courageous frontline workers deserve all of the credit in keeping the vulnerable men and women within our care healthy and safe during this crisis. They stepped up in unimaginable ways, putting their own health at risk to protect our residents. They are true heroes,” says Renita White, Chief Executive Officer of The Boulevard.

###

About The Boulevard of Chicago

The Boulevard of Chicago is the only medical respite center in Illinois dedicated to serving men and women experiencing homelessness. The 64-bed facility (decompressed to 40 beds during the pandemic) provides high quality, cost effective medical respite care, holistic support and housing services to help ill and injured adults break the cycle of homelessness, restore their health and rebuild their lives.

About PCC Community Wellness Center

PCC Community Wellness Center (PCC) is a Federally Qualified Community Health Center with the mission of improving health outcomes for the medically underserved community through the provision of quality, affordable, and accessible primary health care and support services. Anchored with family medicine, PCC is committed to serving the needs of all people in all stages of life.