COVID19: Steps for Immediate Action for Homeless Providers

The State COVID-19 Homeless Response Team and OEO are issuing the attached recommendations on immediate actions for homeless response to COVID-19.  Many of these actions are already underway in some communities and at many organizations.  Thank you.  We hope this provide additional support to those efforts.

Steps for Immediate Action for Homeless Providers

Key Recommendations:

• Shelters stay open 24/7, if possible
• Shelters reduce bed capacity, as needed, to meet the space guidelines
• Community Response Teams mobilize as quickly as possible to coordinate local response efforts
  • Identify a point of contact for the State Homeless Response Team
  • Attached are the minutes from Washington County’s Homeless Response Team, which provide an example of how to organize work quickly. 

We are still working with the Vermont Department of Health, Health Operations Center to review further guidance for shelters on protocols to take during a COVID-19 outbreak.  We still hope to issue this additional guidance early this week.

We will schedule an additional Statewide Homeless Service Provider call for Friday morning.  Details to follow.

For all information we have put out please see www.helpingtohousevt.org/covid19