COVID-19 Resources and Updates

Posted on March 16, 2020

HUD Resources for Infectious Disease Prevention & Response:

Topic	Resource Title	Link
Planning with your local public health authorities	Questions to Assist CoCs and Public Health Authorities to Limit the Spread of Infectious Disease in Homeless Programs	https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Questions-to-Assist-CoCs-and-Public-Health-Authorities-to-Limit-the-Spread-of-Infectious-Disease-in-Homeless-Programs.pdf
Grant Funds & Eligible Costs	Using CoC Program Funds for Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response	https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Using-CoC-Program-Funds-for-Infectious-Disease-Preparedness-and-Response.pdf
	Eligible Program Costs for Infectious Disease Preparedness (This guidance would *only* apply to the emergency shelter or street outreach budget)	https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Eligible-ESG-Program-Costs-for-Infectious-Disease-Preparedness.pdf
Toolkits for CoCs for preventing the spread of infectious disease:	Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease for People Experiencing Homelessness	https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Infectious-Disease-Toolkit-for-CoCs-Preventing-and-Managing-the-Spread-of-Infectious-Disease-for-People-Experiencing-Homelessness.pdf
	Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease within Shelters	https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Infectious-Disease-Toolkit-for-CoCs-Preventing-and-Managing-the-Spread-of-Infectious-Disease-within-Shelters.pdf
	Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease within Encampments	https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Infectious-Disease-Toolkit-for-CoCs-Preventing-and-Managing-the-Spread-of-Infectious-Disease-within-Encampments.pdf

These resources, future HUD updates, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, and Technical Assistance (TA) materials can be found on the HUD Exchange Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Page:

Resources to Support People Experiencing Homelessness (CDC)
COVID-19: Essential Services for Encampments During an Infectious Disease Outbreak (HUD)
COVID-19: Shelter Management During an Infectious Disease Outbreak (HUD)
CDC: Interim Guidance for Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness
CDC: Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (updated 4/21/2020)
Specific Considerations for Public Health Authorities to Limit Infection Risk Among People Experiencing Homelessness
COVID-19 HMIS Setup and Data Sharing Practices (HUD)
COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Needed Policy Responses for a High-Risk Groups (National Health Care for the Homeless Council)
Seattle & King County Interim Guidance – COVID-19 Homeless Service Providers (Seattle & King County)
Screening Clients for Respiratory Infection Symptoms at Entry to Homeless Shelters (CDC)
Screening clients for respiratory infection symptoms at entry to homeless shelters (CDC)

Additional Resources

USICH Guidance on Planning and Preparing for COVID-19 (includes regularly updated list of resources)
Corporation for Supportive Housing FAQs & guidance for supportive housing providers
National Healthcare for the Homeless Council COVID-19 (resource links)
National Alliance to End Homelessness (resource links)
How Does the Federal CARES Act Eviction Moratorium Impact the ESG and CoC Programs? (HUD)
CDC: Interim Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations for US Community Facilities with Suspected/Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Coronavirus and Homelessness: National Alliance to End Homelessness lists resources and key takeaways
Webinar: Reinforcing the Homelessness Crisis Response System: Lessons Learned from Seattle & King County: Slides and webinar recording
Caring for Yourself & Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Managing Healthcare Workers’ Stress

Kent County Resources:

Kent County Health Department: Their website lists up-to-date information and guidance.
Grab-and-Go Meal Sites: Schools districts throughout Kent County are providing grab-and-go meals to students.
Public Volunteer and Supply Need Matching. For detailed instructions for posting a general volunteer or supply need, click here.
HelpKent.org: Interactive map with food-access sites throughout Kent County

Translation and Interpretation

Social Media: A spreadsheet (bit.ly/GRVolunteerTranslation) has been created to translate short (social media length, not more than one paragraph) written materials for translation into Spanish (or other languages). Volunteers can sign up and fill those requests in the same document. This is an effort to free up the capacity of both professional translators working on longer and more complex informational documents (that are constantly being updated), and of bilingual organizational staff to focus on their work. Please share this resource widely!

Documents/Videos: The Hispanic Center of West Michigan has been given funds to cover the cost of translation and interpretation services for any organization for the time being. The Center has the capability to turn around translation of written materials in 24 hours or less, in some 85 languages. They also have the capacity to do same day, simultaneous interpretation of things like press conferences or short videos. Holly Rea is the Center’s language services manager, and she is monitoring her email (hrea@hispanic-center.org), cell phone (616- 828-9679), and office phone (616- 742-0200 ext 132) for translation and interpretation requests. At this time, cost should not be seen as a barrier for organizations to access language services through the Center.

Need Help? Contact 2-1-1 or visit their online database.

Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness (CoC) Guidance:

Committees – please cancel all meetings scheduled to take place in March
Steering Council – will meet in April, but it will be through a virtual platform. The agenda with meeting information will be posted on the Steering Council page.
Any essential committee work that is time-sensitive should coordinate with Courtney for virtual/remote options

State of Michigan Resources

Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness COVID-19 Information for Homeless Service Providers calendar can be found on MCAH’s homepage at:
https://mihomeless.org/
MDHHS Homeless Shelter Quick Sheet
DHHS Webinar Materials: COVID-19 Information for Homeless Providers – Client Practice
MDHHS Webinar Materials: COVID-19 Information for Homeless Providers – Community Coordination
MDHHS Webinar Recording: COVID-19 Information for Homeless Providers – 3.19.20
The Michigan Campaign to End Homelessness website now hosts information and resources for Michigan homeless service providers. Guidance from MDHHS and MSHDA, toolkits from HUD, and opportunities to connect will be regularly updated at: https://bit.ly/MCTEHCOVID19
MCAH has put together a letter that agency staff can print out and keep with them as verification that they qualify as essential staff and meet the requirements necessary to be out of their home working during the COVID-19 outbreak crisis. If you would like to have a copy of this letter for staff in your community, please submit a request to mihelp@mihomeless.org.