I have a one-bedroom apartment in a co-op in Riverdale, a neighborhood in the Bronx, that I got a couple of years ago after commuting four hours a day for 20 years. The house that I’ve lived in for about 25 years is up in Putnam County, which is about 60 miles north of the city. That’s where I am now.
My school closed down on March 10 and I came north the next day. I’ve been pretty much socially isolating since March 11. I’m very fortunate that up here the density is so much less, and it is easy to isolate without really curtailing my life too much. I feel very, very lucky. My niece, who lives in Harlem, came up here and is isolating with me.
I was just really thinking about the resources that I have that I’m not using. I said to my niece, I wish I could give my apartment to a health care worker who needs it; she found Kelsey Osgood’s Google form and I filled it out the next day. The form was basically asked, what kind of facility do you have to donate, what’s my email address, and your location. In a day or so, Kelsey matched me with an ICU doctor at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.
When Kelsey got back to me, she had already vetted the doctor somewhat. She had already called the hospital, made sure he was employed by them; he was in a situation where he was living with vulnerable relatives. I didn’t do anything until I contacted the co-op board, which immediately gave me permission. I’m not sure they would have been so quick to give it to me had the doctor been positive for Covid-19. But to just be able to give him a place to rest, they were ready and willing and helped me expedite everything.
The doctor called me the next morning. I said, “When do you want to start?” And he said, “I would love to go there right away.” It was a couple of days until he could get my keys; I Fed-Exed them to his home. In the meantime, my co-op accommodated him and let him in. They were wonderful.
Our first conversation was brief but emotional. I was just so happy to give and he was so happy to receive. It was really beautiful. He called me an angel and it was just so wonderful to be able to give something so easily. I mean, I’m not going back to the city until it is safe. My apartment will stand empty until then. So to be able to say to him, “Go right now and use it. Be well and safe, and keep your family safe,” and to have him receive it with such gratitude was really quite wonderful.
People who can provide a place to live should do it. Nobody who’s out of the city is thinking of going back there to live anytime soon. People might dash in to grab something they forgot if they have a car, but there’s no downside. If you’re nervous, get a professional cleaner before you reinhabit your house. Nobody’s looking to squat in your apartment right now. The people who are representing themselves as health care workers are honestly doing that work and there’s a great need. Whatever resources we have right now, we need to be giving them.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.