Yachad mobilizes volunteers, invests financial resources, and remediates substandard conditions for lower-income homeowners in DC and Prince George's County. In partnership with an asthma home visiting program, it delivers mattress and pillow covers, air filters, and HEPA vacuums to clients. Exterior work like roof repairs can be safely handled even with COVID-19 in the neighborhood, and pest extermination, an "essential service," can proceed. But with most volunteers temporarily sidelined, Yachad had to adapt. It began providing harm reduction education materials via video and phone, and creatively reframed its core service delivery model: hiring paid contractors who work faster and already have PPE (though this requires additional funds) enabled Yachad to address critical repairs. A new "navigator" program trained remote community members to help families apply for city services. Volunteers are ready to return to action – when it is safe to be together.
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