NLIHC is hosting weekly national calls on COVID-19, homelessness, and housing every Monday afternoon. The next call is today (Monday, April 6) at 2:30 to 4:00 pm ET. Register for the national call at: https://tinyurl.com/ru73qan
The NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC) will continue to advocate for a broad array of resources and protections, including emergency rental assistance and eviction prevention assistance, a national moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, and emergency funds for homelessness service providers, housing authorities, and housing providers, among other recommendations. For more information, see DHRC’s full list of recommendations, which will continue to be expanded and refined. NLIHC has also compiled a list of regulatory recommendations.
NLIHC is also maintaining a COVID-19/Housing and Homelessness News and Resource page here.
National Updates
Congress
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the creation of a new House Select Committee on the Coronavirus which will be tasked with overseeing stimulus funding.
Representativ Jerry McNerney (D-CA) sent a letter to the Trump administration pressing for details regarding how federal agencies are working to ensure the proper care of people experiencing homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leaders in nine U.S. cities called on state and federal officials to provide more support to tenants as the coronavirus crisis deepens.
FEMA
FEMA announced additional Major Disaster Declarations for Hawaii, Montana, and North Dakota, Virginia, Tennessee, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
FEMA laid out reimbursement guidelines for Emergency Medical Care and Non-Congregate Sheltering, elaborating on the existing rules allowing for both of these expenses to be covered by FEMA’s Public Assistance Category B program.
As an abnormally warm Gulf of Mexico indicates an increased risk of tornados and hurricanes in the coming year, FEMA is bracing itself for a multi-front battle.
HUD
HUD announced that DHS will be recognizing residential and shelter workers as essential, exempting them from stay-at-home orders occurring across the country.
Advocacy
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) released an updated overview of changes to unemployment insurance payments and eligibility related to the pandemic. CBPP also released a list of recommendations to broaden eligibility for stimulus rebates.
The National Consumer Law Center launched a new COVID-19 & Consumer Protections webpage on what’s needed to protect renters and homeowners during the pandemic. The organization is also offering free access to the digital edition of “Surviving Debt: Expert Advice for Getting Out of Financial Trouble” – NCLC’s comprehensive guide to navigating debt for consumers and their advocates.
The Anti-Eviction Mapping Project released a nationwide map of eviction moratoriums and tenant protections.
Stateside created a 2020 state and local government coronavirus response chart to track state legislative actions, executive agency actions, and local government actions related to the pandemic.
Reporting
Popular Science released an article covering homelessness and vulnerability to coronavirus.
Wired is reporting that many individuals experiencing homelessness are turning to web forums for best practices to avoid COVID-19 infection.
State News
A list of local eviction and foreclosure moratoriums is available here from NLIHC.
Alaska
The City of Anchorage is debating what to do in order to ensure the safety of individuals experiencing homelessness in the city, including hosting them at local indoor ice arenas.
California
In Sacramento, the state’s stay-at-home order has been in place for two weeks, but no new shelter beds have been created. As a result, individuals experiencing homelessness are resorting to living in vacant homes. Sacramento police removed three homeless adults from a vacant home they resided in, citing them for trespass.
San Francisco is reporting its first case of COVID-19 at a homeless shelter. The individual is in isolation at a hotel room. The city is encouraging homeless residents to pitch tents for protection.
The City of Laguna Woods is “deeply concerned” with Orange County’s decision to place COVID-19 positive individuals inside a hotel in that city.
Illinois
Handwashing stations and lavatories are being provided to encampments in Chicago
Michigan
Detroit will be offering free COVID-19 testing at a Salvation Army facility with support from several area education and health organizations.
Minnesota
Service providers and officials in Minnesota are working to increase shelter room and procure hotel rooms for individuals experiencing homelessness. The Minnesota legislature recently approving $26.5 million for homeless services.
Michigan
Detroit will be offering free COVID-19 testing at a Salvation Army facility with support from several area education and health organizations.
Missouri
An individual experiencing homelessness that tested positive for COVID-19 walked out of a St. Louis hospital and sparked an urgent search. St. Louis Human Services quickly reached out to all homeless shelters in the city, informing them of the situation. The man was later found and is staying in an area hotel room.
A homeless couple from Kansas City who experienced difficulties getting tested for COVID-19 illustrates the issues individuals experiencing homelessness are having in accessing testing and medical care.
New York
More than 99 people living in New York City’s homeless shelters have tested positive for COVID-19. The current situation is the result of years of underfunding by the state and city government.
The City of New York is posting notices to homeless encampments warning of them to vacate the premises or lose their belongings. The CDC directly advises against such “street sweeps” during the pandemic.
Nevada
After gaining nationwide notoriety for forcing homeless individuals to sleep in a cage-lined parking lot, the City of Las Vegas and Clark County have now promised to have a temporary shelter facility up and running within six days. The parking lot shelter was quickly closed after a shelter was successfully decontaminated.
Oregon
Portland’s and Multnomah County’s joint shelter system is putting together a series of assistance measures to deal with the pandemic that will likely cost $3.5 million a month.
Puerto Rico
200,000 COVID-19 test kits ordered by Puerto Rico are sitting in a U.S. mainland port awaiting FDA inspection. The tests were scheduled to arrive one week ago.
South Carolina
Nearly 60 individuals experiencing homelessness in Mecklenburg County are suspected of or confirmed to have COVID-19.
Texas
DHRC-member Texas Housers called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) to take additional measures to ensure Texans keep their homes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor recently unlocked $11 million in tenant assistance.
Workers at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless are wearing bandannas to protect against COVID-19
Virginia
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) announced an initial $2.5 million in emergency funding to shelter the state’s homeless population.
Washington, DC
DC government is working to increase space in homeless shelters and provide hotel rooms for some unsheltered residents.
Policy and Guidance
Federal Guidance
CDC
The CDC has posted a simple screening tool that can be used at the entry of homeless shelters to identify people with symptoms of respiratory infection. If someone screens positive for symptoms, it is suggested they be directed to somewhere they can safely stay.
A Journal of Urban Health study titled "Homelessness and the Response to Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Lessons from SARS" highlights the need for an outbreak preparedness plan that accounts for unique issues related to those experiencing homelessness. The study identified lessons learned in the areas of communication, infection control, isolation and quarantine, and resource allocation.
Health and Human Services
The HHS collection of federal guidance, news, and responses to COVID-19 now includes a memorandum titled "Questions and answers about TANF and the COVID-19 pandemic". This tool addresses questions and summarizes the flexibilities in the TANF program to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Housing and Urban Development
HUD has updated it’s COVID-19 Multifamily Stakeholder Q&A Document.
Harm Reduction Coalition
The Harm Reduction Coalition created a factsheet to provide information about safer drug use during the COVID-19 Outbreak.
University of Washington – Northwest ADA Center
The Northwest ADA Center at UW released this fact sheet on ADA accessibility in drive-thru medical sites.
State Level Guidance
California
The State of California has published their recommended protocol and strategic approaches for COVID-19 response for individuals experiencing homelessness. The San Francisco Street Sheet released 7 steps they are urging the city to do to address the needs of homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless as a result of COVID-19. The steps aim to slow the spread of COVID-19 among unhoused populations.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health has provided interim guidance for medical providers caring for people who use drugs (PWUD) and need to be quarantined. The guide provides general recommendations as well as specific recommendations for various drug types.
Alameda County has released both COVID-19 street outreach and homeless shelter health guidance for the area. Vast resources for both are listed.
San José shared steps the city has taken to mitigate the impact COVID-19 could have on homeless individuals and families. The City is looking to expand temporary shelter capacity, increase the amount of hygiene equipment, and more.
Nevada County's Homeless Plan follows the guidance provided by the local, State and Federal government as pertains to COVID-19 and Homelessness. As that guidance changes and the situation evolve, the plan will be updated as resources allow.
New York
New York City has released interim guidance for homeless shelters in the area. The document aims to help shelters prevent the spread of COVID-19 and prepare for an outbreak if it were to occur.
North Carolina
North Carolina has released interim guidance for homeless shelters in the area. The document includes planning, prevention, and recommendations if coronavirus cases were to occur.
Texas
The Texas Health and Human Services publishes updated communications and media tools for spreading awareness about COVID-19 in Texas. Resources are available in both English and Spanish and are easily shareable.
Washington
Seattle's Downtown Emergency Service Center has successfully met the CDC guidelines for social distancing throughout their shelter programs while maintaining the same daily availability of 508 beds. They have shared their preparation and action strategies with the public.