First Step Shelter Offers Free COVID-19 Testing This Monday

Daytona Beach, FL – Free COVID-19 testing is being offered to any homeless person who would like to be tested next Monday, September twenty-eighth, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Florida Department of Health-Volusia will conduct the testing and the results will be provided in about four days.  According to Victoria Fahlberg, Executive Director of First Step Shelter, “We are extremely pleased to offer this testing opportunity to the homeless in Volusia County.  Since the changeover to new management only seven weeks ago, we have trained 13 new staff, transitioned to a full-service kitchen, placed 10 people in housing, and worked for weeks with the Department of Health to institute a complicated but safe intake process.  We appreciate the Department of Health’s assistance with creating our new intake procedures and in making this testing opportunity possible for the homeless in our county.”  First Step Shelter is again accepting referrals after COVID-19 put a stop to new intakes in March.  Getting into the shelter means having a referral from an approved source and following the steps that can be found at firststepshelter.org For those that would like to help the people being helped by First Step, you can donate gently used household goods, small appliances, and furniture. The items will help furnish the new housing for residents of the shelter.