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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Elevated COVID-19 activity in the Rochester area has prompted a decision to move and consolidate the Rochester Day Center and Community Warming Center for homeless individuals in the community.

Beginning Friday morning, the Day Center will return to the Mayo Civic Center, where it was located during the first weeks of the pandemic. The warming center is being relocated to the Mayo Civic Center tonight.

“This temporary change of operations is the best decision to keep the unsheltered homeless in our community as healthy and safe as possible during this pandemic. When we operated the warming center out of the Mayo Civic Center earlier this year, it worked out quite successfully, so I’m expecting much of the same this time around,” said Director of Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority Dave Dunn. “After four weeks, we will evaluate whether the stay at the Mayo Civic Center will need to be extended.”

The temporary relocation of the two programs is expected to last for the next four weeks. The Day Center will continue to be operated by The Landing, while Catholic Charities and Olmsted County will run the Warming Center. The assistance for homeless individuals is being provided by the city and county using federal CARES Act funding.

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