COVID-19 and Homelessness Resource Guide

UPDATED: 03/01/2021

REFERENCES:

Connecticut Resources
National Resources
Additional Client Resources
Resources for Youth
Resources for Food

This resource guide is intended to provide useful information to providers of homeless shelters, transitional housing, drop-in centers, and other homeless services to assist with preparation and prevention of spread of COVID-19 in Connecticut. 

At this time, we are strongly urging homeless shelters and other services providers to remain open, while modifying services delivery and implementing measures to minimize community spread of COVID-19. We encourage all Connecticut providers to consult the Department of Housing’s guidance for preparing shelters for COVID-19 and to remain in close communication with their local health departments. Below are some additional resources to inform your response. Please do not hesitate to reach out by contacting info@cceh.org if we can be helpful to you.

A message to our providers from State Senator and physician Saud Anwar.

Summary of Connecticut Resources

• Vaccine Access for Clients and Staff
  • Vaccine Access Update – 03.01.21
  • Vaccine Access for Clients and Staff
  • Vaccine Access and Testing Update
  • Vaccine Access and VAMS Q&A
• Department of Housing Guidance:
  • Rapid Re-Housing Prioritization & Paperwork Requirements During State’s Declaration of Public Health & Civil Preparedness Emergency
  • New Shelter Admission Guidelines
  • Temporary Rental Housing Assistance Program
  • Temporary Mortgage Assistance Program
  • Memorandum – Changes to J. D’Amelia Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Memorandum – Emergency Shelter Contractual Requirements During COVID-19
  • Memorandum – Rapid Re-Housing Apartment Search & Inspection Request Protocols
  • Memorandum – Rapid Re-Housing Prioritization & Paperwork Requirements during State’s Declaration of Public Health & Civil Preparedness Emergency
  • Memorandum – Changes to CAN Appointments for COVID-19
  • Memorandum – Preparing Shelters for COVID-19
  • DOH COVID-19 Homeless Response Assessment
    • Online Survey
    • PDF
• CCEH Guidance:
  • CCEH Webinar Recording
  • CCEH Webinar Slides
  • CCEH Webinar Slides – On the Monitor, Care, and Isolation of Persons With COVID-19 in Shelters and Hotels
  • Guidance re: Homeless Encampments
  • Hospital Discharge Workflow Diagram
  • Hotel and Shelter Protocol Workflow Diagram
  • Infectious Disease Protocol Outline
  • Map of Local Health Departments and Districts. 
  • COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund for Shelter Diversion and Rapid-Exit
• CCM Guidance:
  • CCM COVID-19 Webinar Recording
  • CCM COVID-19 Municipal Slides
• Toolkits and Model Documents:
  • Resources for Shelter Operations in Hotel Space
    • Symptom Screening and Triage Protocol
    • Client Expectations Takeaway Sheet
    • Client Meals and Medication Refill Form
    • Client Agreement Form (Sample 1)
    • Client Agreement Form (Sample 2)
    • Shift Summary
    • Shift Log
    • Job Description for Shelter and Hotel Case Management
  • Sample Preparation Plans from Shelter and Services Providers:
    • Beth-El Center’s COVID-19 Preparation Plan
    • South Park Inn’s COVID-19 Preparation Plan
    • New London Homeless Hospitality Center’s Infection Control Policy
    • Inspirica’s COVID-19 Protocols
  • Sample Notices of Reduced or Modified Services:
    • Beth-El Center’s Notice to Soup Kitchen
    • Liberty Community Services’ Notice of Reduced Services
• State of Connecticut General COVID-19 Guidance
  • FAQ on the State of Connecticut’s COVID-19 Response
  • Testing Strategy and Implementation for Reopening the State
• City of Hartford
  • Homeless Service Provider Interim COVID-19 Response Plan 2020

If you have specific questions regarding DOH policy or protocol, please contact: Leigh Shields-Church or Kara Capobianco
For general questions, please contact: info@cceh.org

Summary of National Resources

• HUD Guidance:
  • Rapid Rehousing Ramp up
  • Remote Supervision Tips for Homeless System Providers
  • Disease Risks and Homelessness Page
  • Developing Your Funding Strategy
  • Making Smart Investments in a Time of Crisis
  • Infectious Disease Toolkit
  • Infectious Disease and Provider Preparedness (Webinar)
  • Specific Considerations for Public Health Authorities to Limit Infection Risk Among People Experiencing Homelessness
  • Ask A Question (AAQ) Portal
• CDC Guidance:
  • New Guidance on Quarantine Procedure (including Congregate Settings) – Updated 01.6.22
  • Symptom-Based Strategy to Discontinue Isolation for Persons With COVID-19  
  • Symptoms of COVID-19
  • Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19
  • Screening Clients at Entry to Homeless Shelters
  • CDC Resources to Support People Experiencing Homelessness
  • Interim Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations
  • Interim Guidance for People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness
• NAEH Guidance:
  • Supporting Academic Success and Safety for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness During the COVID-19
  • The Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response
  • Use ESG-CV to Help Those Currently Experiencing Homelessness First
  • Coronavirus and Homelessness Post (Updated)
• USICH Guidance:
  • Early Childhood Self-Assessment Tool for Shelters
  • COVID-19 Toolkit
  • Supporting Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness During the COVID-19 Outbreak
• CSH Guidance:
  • COVID-19 Guidance for SH Providers 
  • What Supportive Housing Providers Need to Know
  • Home Visit Script (Pathways DC Sample)
• NHCHC Shelter Assessment:
  • Resource Guide
  • Tier One COVID-19 Response Assessment for Shelter
• Guidance for Eligible Cost on Infections Disease Preparedness:
  • ESG Program Eligible Costs for Infectious Disease Preparedness
  • CoC Program Eligible Funds for Infectious Disease Preparedness
  • CDBG Eligible Activities to Support Infectious Disease Response

Additional Resources for Working with Clients

• IRS Guidance
  • Guide to Using the IRS Non-Filers Tool to Get an Economic Impact Payment
• SAMHSA Guidance:
  • Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
  • Tips for Prents, Teachers, and Caregivers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
• DCF Guidance:
  • Guidance for In-Home Visitation and Screening of Youth and Visitors to Offices, Facilities and Programs
• Posters and Flyers to Display
  • Food Safety, Handwashing, Germs, Coronavirus, and COVID-19, and More
  • Economic Impact Payment for Americans Experiences Homelessness
• Turning Point CT Guidance:
  • Coping with COVID-19

Resources for Working with Youth

• RHY Provider Guidance:
  • Responding to COVID-19
• Point Source Youth:
  • Weekly Webinar Series
• Away Home America:
  • Covid-19 Through the Lens of Equity & Youth Collaboration Webinar co-hosted with the National Youth Forum on Homelessness (webinar date on – March 27th at 1pm).
• NN4Y Guidance:
  • COVID-19  Resources for Youth Homelessness Providers

Food Security Resources:

• Department of Education
  • Emergency Meal Program
• CT Food Bank
  • Mobile Pantry Schedule
• Foodshare
  • Food Assistance Programs and Schedules