Episode 3: Boston HOPE
Boston HOPE served as a 1,000 bed COVID field hospital during the height of the pandemic. Our Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program staff managed 500 beds for our patients, many of whom had severe mental illness or a substance use disorder.
As the numbers of COVID+ cases continued to increase and Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program learned in real time how the virus progressed and how to treat it, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center was converted into a 1,000 bed COVID field hospital called Boston HOPE. BHCHP was asked to set up and manage 500 beds for our patients experiencing homelessness. Our patients showed resiliency and courage in the midst of this stressful time, spending 24/7 in a cavernous hall with strangers, while caregivers dressed in full PPE did their best to manage their care. Our exceptional clinicians went above and beyond while facing this challenge.