Improving Volunteers' Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The onset of COVID-19 presented multiple challenges to both governmental and nongovernmental organizations. The selected study site is a nonprofit organization located in a major Southern US City. This organization shelters homeless men. The organization depended on volunteers' assistance in offering short-term and long-term solutions to provide clothing, cleaning, and shelter for homeless men. The organization was facing new challenges due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, the complexities of the social, political, and economic challenges for volunteers during the pandemic were well explored. The nonprofit organization’s challenges were examined and recommendations to help the organization remain viable were provided. A qualitative research approach was used to gather nonnumerical data regarding long-term solutions for the nonprofit organization staff and volunteer program experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The thematic analysis technique was used to interpret data from focus group dialogues and interviews to understand the formulated research questions better. The return on engagement for the organization and the level of involvement of the volunteers were two key themes that emerged from this research on how the safety of volunteers might be improved. Providing critical health services that supported the government's efforts to improve people's economic mobility and stability was the purpose of the organizational needs assessment. The protection of its workers and volunteers was essential.