Greensboro Field Office Supports City of Rocky Mount COVID-19 Vaccine Popup Effort

Rocky Mount clinical team members helping local resident during the COVID-19 vaccination pop-up effort.

NC National Guardsmen assist in the Rocky Mount popup vaccination effort.

Rocky Mount OIC Community Healthcare Center pop up clinic.

The HUD Greensboro Field Office, City of Rocky Mount Housing Authority (RMHA), Edgecombe County Health Department and Rocky Mount Opportunities Industrialization Center (RMOIC) a Federally Qualified Health Clinic, partnered on Saturday August 14 to offer a health clinic/COVID-19 vaccination popup at the RMOIC facility to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to interested residents of the Weeks Armstrong and West End Terrace Communities.

"When faced with the short and medium-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, we knew it would be necessary to bring about specific interventions to enhance the personal security of our residents," stated RMHA CEO Kelvin Macklin. "To that end, RMHA partnered with a local medical non-profit to be assured that clinical assistance was and continues to be readily available for tenants on a day-to-day basis and has also accepted the HUD-assisted coordination to work with a local health department. The mission of the Rocky Mount Housing Authority, in part, has all to do with providing rapid and decisive actions to support its residents in times of crisis."

"I applaud the Rocky Mount Housing Association and the Rocky Mount Opportunities Industrialization Center for helping improve the safety and well-being of their residents by providing this vaccine pop-up today," said HUD Greensboro Field Office Director, Roosevelt A. Grant.

The RMOIC, whose corporate mantra is "helping people help themselves" provides several community services such as health and wellness, education, work force training, career development, and medical services. RMOIC provides comprehensive healthcare services that lead to smart health decisions for the community. Medical services provided by the RMOIC include health screenings, dental, STD testing and counseling, Behavioral Health diagnosis and treatment as well as pharmacy services.

The RMHA, and RMOIC tirelessly worked with the HUD Greensboro Field Office to encourage public housing residents to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. To that end, significant effort was made by the RMHC and the RMOIC to canvass the Weeks Armstrong and community residents. Almost 500 public housing units were contacted through door-to-door canvassing, some 100 residents affirmed their interest, while less than 20 residents made the final step to get vaccinated. Undeterred, the RMHA and the RMOIC are in discussions to schedule another COVID-19 vaccination popup in early October.

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