Coronavirus & Homelessness: How Our Community Can Be Prepared
As the number of coronavirus infections continues to rise, people experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable. Many people experiencing homelessness already have compromised health in many ways. Many have no choice but to be in congregate settings for sleeping and meals, which can increase the risk of transmission of the virus from person to person.
Below are some key takeaways from CDC resources and guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help us prepare for the impact of the coronavirus outbreak:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Encourage frequent hand-washing and increased surface cleaning/disinfection.
Communicate with staff and other people in your space about facility preparedness and policy updates (i.e. modified hours, non-urgent care by telephone, etc.), and use social media and email
Minimize the number of staff members who have face-to-face interactions with people who are exhibiting respiratory symptoms. Use physical barriers to protect staff who will have interactions with anyone with unknown infection status (e.g. check-in staff).
In general sleeping areas (for those who are not experiencing respiratory symptoms), ensure that beds/mats are at least 3 feet apart, and request that anyone sleeping in close quarters sleep head-to-toe.
Expand the community’s understanding of people living in encampments or other places outside of shelter. Communicate the need for access to clean water, hand washing stations, and public restroom access for people experiencing homelessness to key stakeholders responsible for the provision of municipal services. Encourage public health partners to create regular schedules for onsite vaccinations and street medicine services.
Provide access to fluids, tissues, plastic bags for the proper disposal of used tissues.
Ensure bathrooms and other sinks are consistently stocked with soap and drying materials for hand washing. Provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers at key points within the building, including registration desks, entrances/exits, and eating areas.
Monitor people who could be at high risk for complications from COVID-19 (those who are older or have underlying health conditions) and reach out to them regularly.
Confine people with mild respiratory symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection to individual rooms, if possible, and have them avoid common areas.
Expect the homelessness services sector to be impacted, and anticipate modified service delivery based on staff capacity.
Screen people for acute respiratory illness, ensuring use of personal protection equipment, and encouraging sick employees to stay home.
Stay updated with the latest from the CDC website
Read the facts below to help stop the spread of false facts around COVID-19.
