Though much of the state and the nation closed down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, safe houses and places of refuge in the Permian Basin stayed open for those seeking a helping hand.
There was, however, one caveat for these facilities: they had to implement coronavirus-related safety measures to stymie the spread of the highly-contagious virus among employees and clients, News West9 reported in early June.
Lisa Bownds, CEO of Reflection Ministries, told News West9 that it would difficult to turn people away because there were no other facilities available.
"They're just coming off a horrific life and off the street," Bownds told News West9. "We can't turn around and put them anywhere else because there is nowhere else to take them."
During the outbreak, The Safe Place in Midland left several feet of space between their dining chairs. Reflection Ministries offered cleaning supplies to its residents and the Crisis Center of West Texas limited capacity in its common areas, News West9 reported.
“It's not just hey, the world's opened up again and let's go be a part of it,” Bownds told News West9. “We still have the safety issues that we're paying attention to, (like) to active traffickers that are looking.”