FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Durrel Douglas, 832.857.5737

January 3, 2022

COVID HOTLINE AIMS TO CONNECT CARLESS HOUSTONIANS W/VACCINE APPOINTMENTS

HOUSTON- As COVID cases reach a fever pitch, local non-profit organization Houston Justice has launched a 24-hour COVID Helpline to connect economically disadvantaged Houstonians who can’t afford to catch Uber/Lyft with a team of volunteers who will book vaccine appointments and schedule rides to and from approved vaccination sites. They’ve called their campaign “COVID: Shut It Down,” a favorite saying of one of the group’s most active volunteers.

“A report by the group LINK Houston says according to the data, about 40 percent of local bus riders don’t have a vehicle at home. Nineteen percent were using the bus as their only transportation option. These are the people who need to get vaccinated, but can’t afford a $20 Uber ride or 90 minutes on a Metro bus to get vaccinated,” said Durrel Douglas, Founder and Executive Director of Houston Justice.

According to Douglas, a grant from Houston in Action has provided the resources to build out the framework for the initiative which will be led by volunteers from communities with the highest unvaccinated numbers like Greenspoint, South Park, and Acres Home. Douglas says incoming call information is collected and sorted, then another team will follow up to set vaccine appointments and book rides.

“If we’re going to really SHUT IT DOWN, we’re going to have to aim for those in the poorest communities where the people often feel ignored.

For more information: houstonjustice.org/covid

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