Resources to Support People Experiencing Homelessness

Plan, prepare, and respond to coronavirus disease 2019

At all times…

Encourage your staff or community members to protect their personal health.
Post the signs and symptoms of COVID-19:
fever, cough, shortness of breath.
Clean surfaces that are frequently touched – things such as shared desks, countertops, kitchen areas, electronics, and doorknobs.
Limit events and meetings that require close contact.
Stay up to date on developments in your community.
Create an emergency plan for possible outbreak.
Assess if community members are at higher risk and plan accordingly.

Before an outbreak:

Coordinate with local public health officials.
Set up plans for housing clients who are sick.
Create plan on how to ensure sick clients get medical care.
Promote everyday preventive actions.
Plan for higher shelter usage.
Consider the needs of unsheltered homeless and others at higher-risk for severe illness.
Clean and disinfect regularly.

During an outbreak in the local community:

Connect with state and local authorities.
Put emergency operations and communication plans into action.
Use multiple social (physical) distancing strategies.
Require staff and volunteers who are sick to stay home.
Provide a clean, disposable face mask to clients with respiratory illness symptoms.
Separate sick clients (even those with mild symptoms) from healthy clients.
Transfer clients with severe symptoms to a medical facility.
Limit visitors to the facilities.