An old limestone building in downtown Columbus has served many roles for the local community over the years, but its current setup offers services unlike any offered before.
The old post office at the northeast corner of Seventh and Washington connected residents far and wide for years before recent renovations turned it into a recovery center for mothers battling addiction.
While the opening of the recovery center has been put on hold by COVID-19, the structure won’t sit empty.
Until the COVID-19 crisis is over, the building will become the "Columbus Regional Health Heroes House," reserved for those who have been exposed to the coronavirus from a positive patient or positive employee.
Fresh Start Recovery was scheduled to have an open house this month, but the treatment center for women in recovery who could live there with their children won’t be allowed to open until the contagion risk drops significantly or is eliminated.
Volunteers of America, which acquired the building in August 2018, offered to allow the hospital workers to stay in the building for the time being.
The remodeled building has 17 bedrooms, an equal number of bathrooms, common space, kitchen and laundry facilities. With three floors, the building works perfectly for these professionals to eat, sleep and isolate.
This past Thursday, Columbus Regional Hospital said it had 12 hospital in-patients being treated for COVID-19, two listed as critical-stable and 10 in stable condition. The hospital reported April 15 that 23 CRH staff members/providers have tested positive for COVID-19.
By using the donated space, hospital workers are helping keep their families safe while also not taking up resources at the hospital. The isolation will allow the workers to isolate in a safe manner, which will get them back to the front lines faster.
The act represents one of many prime examples of how the community is coming together to help slow the spread of the virus. Our health workers deserve to be protected as much as possible, as they risk their wellness every day.
Those involved couldn’t have come up with a better name for the facility, which will serve an important purpose moving forward.
