NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council collaborated on a Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response to provide communities with guidance on strategic use of federal funds across a range of public health and economic recovery stages. These strategies incorporate a racial justice and equity lens and are aimed at helping communities meet public health goals, increase housing stability, and prevent future increases in homelessness that result from an economic downturn.
The public health and economic crisis created by the global COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted people experiencing homelessness, communities of color, and people with disabilities. Homelessness assistance systems have struggled to meet demand and to become integrated into community-level public health and economic recovery activities. The CARES Act and other funding sources, such as FEMA Public Assistance, has provided significant new funding to help make it possible for communities to conduct emergency protective measures and plan for an equity-focused recovery. To address the urgent needs of disproportionately impacted groups, these resources must be coordinated.
Communities can become overwhelmed by the range of strategies they need to implement, and the Framework provides guidance on how they can move forward. Due to the ever-changing nature of this crisis, we will regularly update the Framework as new information on strategies, funding sources and implementation tools emerge.
Find the latest version of The Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response here: https://bit.ly/2UBxvvD