The Beacon:

• Services within the John S. Dunn Outreach Center (including the Day Center) will be temporarily modified at least through Friday, March 20. 
• Front line staff will distribute take-away meals to individuals from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, seven days a week. Meals will be distributed in the front courtyard area on Prairie Street and individuals will be asked to not congregate on the property once they receive their food. These sacks will include enough food for two meals, drinks, toothbrushes, and hand wipes. 
• Individuals will be able to access laundry and shower services on a limited basis. 
• Housing assessments will be available during the 10:30 am - 12:30 pm window and continue until all on the list are called, Monday - Friday. 
• All other client-facing services will be shifted to being delivered remotely including Beacon Law, Brigid's Hope, COMPASS, and Rapid Rehousing. 
• A volunteer shift will be set up to help make sandwiches and volunteers can register through the website as usual. 

Covenant House:

• Day programming is closed and they are not currently accepting new youth into shelter. 

Lord of the Streets:

Daily: 

• Those for whom LOTS is their mailing address may receive their mail between 8:15am-12noon.
• We distribute snack packs or sack lunches (as long as donations continue) between 8:15am-12noon.
• The Harris Health Clinic will serve the first 8 people requesting medical attention (incl. health checks, prescription refills) from 8:15am – 2:00pm.

Occasional:

• On Tuesdays, Harris Health will provide a Behavioral Health specialist from 8:30-11:30am.
• On Wednesdays, Harris Health will provide a staff member to enroll or extend qualified applicants for “Gold Cards” (i.e., the Harris Health coverage throughout their system) from 9:00–11:30am.
• On Wednesdays, a Psychiatrist is available from 9:00am-2:00pm. (The Psychiatrist schedule is subject to change of days as well as times.)

Open Door Mission:

• Not accepting new clients in March; will re-evaluate in April. 

Open Gate Young Adult Ministry:

• Through at least March 22, Open Gate will not operate as a drop-in center. 
• Meals and hygiene kits, clothing, etc. will be offered on a takeaway basis from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm. 
• The clothing closet will not be open. 
• Restrooms will be available.

Salvation Army:

• Full to capacity and not accepting new clients at this time. They are prioritizing social distancing and looking into opportunities to expand their service. 

Santa Maria Hostel:

• Limited intake. 

St. Joseph Clubhouse:

• Closed.

Star of Hope:

• Intake hours at Star of Hope shelters will be limited to Monday - Friday, from 8 am - 4 pm, when Harris Health can be onsite for health screenings at intake. 

The Women's Home:

• Transitional Housing program closed for admission at residential drug/alcohol treatment program. 
• No visitors/volunteers.

Bristow Center/PATH

• The Bristow Center continues to provide all services but has reduced the amount of clients being served. PATH program hours are 7:00 am - 3:30 pm. 

Covenant House :

• Street outreach program is currently closed for an indefinite amount of time. 

Harris County Sheriff's Office Homeless Outreach Team

• Harris County Sheriff's Office HOmeless Outreach Team continues to provide street outreach to those in need. 

Hope Haven :

• Handing out emergency food packages. 

Houston Police Department Homeless Outreach Team

• HPD HOT continues to provide street outreach services to those in need. 

SEARCH Homeless Services

• Front line staff will serve clients via phone and email. Currently not conducting street outreach.

Magnificat House

• Emergency Housing Program closed until April 3. 

New Hope Housing:

• Essential staff only working in all apartment communities. Permanent Supportive Housing program closed for admission.
• Onsite resident programs have been suspended in order to promote social distancing. Visitor policy has been suspended and includes health care professionals only. Shared common areas in all properties (such as the business center, kitchen, library) have been closed. 
• Additional educational and protective measures have been taken to provide residents with supplemental support services, including basic essentials like hygiene items and food.

SEARCH Homeless Services

• Front line staff will serve clients via phone and email. 

Bristow Center/PATH: 

• The Bristow Center continues to provide all services but has reduced the amount of clients being served. PATH program hours are 7:00 am - 3:30 pm. 

Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston (HHH)

• The Caroline Street Clinic (1934 Caroline St) remains open with heightened screening and safety measures Monday - Thursday from 8 am - 4 pm and Friday from 8 am - noon.
• Walk-ins are welcome but slots are limited. If possible, please call 713-286-6000 to make a same-day or next-day appointment. 
• The Dental Clinic at 1934 Caroline Street is closed except for emergency. All dental emergency patients must see a medical provider at the Caroline Street Clinic to be assessed before being referred to emergency dental. 
• The Cathedral Clinic (1212 Prairie St) and other outreach programming is suspended at this time. 
• New volunteer opportunities have been suspended at this time. 

Baker Ripley

• Click here to view a complete list of closures. 

Combined Arms

• Click here to view a video update from Combined Arms. 

The Council on Recovery

• Please click here to access the latest facility information from The Council on Recovery.

Homeless Court

• Homeless Court (through the City of Houston municipal court) is suspended until further notice. 

Loaves and Fishes

• Closed until April 3. 

Saint Vincent de Paul Holy Family Missouri City

• The Saint Vincent de Paul Holy Family food pantry in Missouri City, TX is currently closed until further notice. 

Social Security Administration

• Social Security offices will be closed to the public beginning March 17, 2020. Online services will remain active and local offices will provide critical services over the phone. 

How does the Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact people experiencing homelessness? 

• We know that people experiencing homelessness are twice as likely to become infected by COVID-19 and that if infected, the disease is twice as deadly. 

Are there any confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the homeless population? 

• At this time we know of one confirmed case of COVID-19 among the homeless population in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties. The homeless response system will not have the most up-to-date information on confirmed/suspected/recovered cases due to patient privacy and HIPPA laws. 

What is our ability to house people? 

• The ability to house people is limited; most staff is working remotely during this time and many businesses/organizations have closed their offices due to this pandemic. Many landlords have also chosen to close their office and not accept new clients at this time however, some are being flexible. Work focused on enrolling and housing clients will greatly depend on the agencies and their individual staff comfort with working outside of their homes. HHA is developing new ways to conduct inspections and briefings during this time, to continue the housing process as best of their abilities. The barrier will be finding ways to connect clients to this technology to continue their housing process. 

What are the barriers?

• We need HUD to support with written guidance, reasonable adjustments to operating procedures based on the enhanced risks to households experiencing homelessness to reduce the risk for people currently experiencing homelessness who are in need of housing assistance, for formerly homeless households, and for homeless service providers. We require adjustments that support the community to reduce risks of infection such as the waiving of HQS. We have been told that HUD is working on additional guidance regarding requirements for inspections. In the meantime, the health and safety of program participants, staff, and the public are the priority. Please follow the guidance of your local public health authorities.  

If we are not housing people can we repurpose funds for hotels, cleaning stations and other COVID-19 responses? 

• The Coalition is actively working with funders, including the local HUD field office and City/County partners who provide entitlement funding to The Way Home system to identify ways to continue to spend down and modify grants, allowable activities, and continue to serve people experiencing homelessness in ways that make sense in this new environment. 

What happens if the community goes on lockdown? 

• We do currently have a “Stay Home Work Smart” order from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and we anticipate that the other counties in The Way Home (Fort Bend and Montgomery counties) may soon follow.
• Homeless service providers and volunteers should be considered essential personnel and should be allowed to continue to deliver critical services to people experiencing homelessness including but not limited to: street outreach, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing, Domestic Violence shelter and permanent housing, feeding, sanitation and hygiene, etc. 

What can you tell me about viruses in general? 

• Viruses are “non-living biologicals” and cannot move across a piece of paper or surface - it stays where it stands. COVID-19 in particular is not airborne; it is contained in droplets that can be spread by close contact and/or by touching a contaminated surface with your hand and then touching a mucous membrane (eyes, nose, mouth) with that same hand. 

If a staff member at my program is over the age of 60 and/or has a compromised immune system or health history that might make them more vulnerable to COVID-19, can they safely interact with clients? If yes, what does that look like? 

• Everyone, regardless of age or health history has the potential of contracting the virus. Those who are 55 years or older, are immunocompromised, or have another health history  that makes them susceptible should minimize their contact with others. Young people are still likely to get infected, they just don’t typically get as ill as other vulnerable groups. Young people who might feel invincible and don’t practice social distancing can unintentionally infect other people without knowing it. 

Should people wear gloves in general when interacting with other people including clients? 

• No, the skin is a great barrier to viruses and diseases; viruses penetrate mucous membranes like the eyes, nose, and mouth. Gloves can provide a false sense of security if they are used and then the person touches their face. If someone touches you or hands you something and you don’t have on gloves, do not touch your face until you wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 

Should people wear masks when interacting with other people including clients? 

• COVID-19 is not an airborne virus, so you can pass by someone who has contracted the virus and not be infected. If someone coughs or sneezes on you within 6 feet of you, or if you are closer than 6 feet to someone for more than 6 minutes, that is a different situation. If someone who is infected coughs or sneezes on you outside, the wind would help disperse and dilute the droplets. If someone who is infected coughs or sneezes on you inside, droplets travel outward, typically no further than 6 feet, and then fall downward where they can remain on the floor or another low surface for longer. 

When can I disclose my client’s COVID-19 status? 

• Click here to view guidance from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) regarding HMIS Privacy and COVID-19. 

Will new partners be allowed into the CoC to address potential capacity issues? 

• We welcome new organizations to join the CoC. Please email Caybryn Southern at csouthern@homelesshouston.org for more information. 

Are there other sub populations showing up? And if so, where? What are the interventions? 

• If funding was available, we would most likely focus on RRH, Diversion, and Prevention, as intervention methods on sub populations appearing during this time. There is no additional data showing where possible sub populations could be appearing at this time. 

Are we trying to restart coordinated access? 

• Coordinated Access has not stopped; people are still being assessed and placed on the waitlist. The Lead Agency does believe conversations need to begin, focusing on how/if people should be added to the waitlist based on their score and when we should start only referring people with recent work history to RRH.  

Where are young people showing up in the system? 

• We believe they could be appearing at Covenant House, feeding groups, and outside of YARC when meals are being provided. 

What is the youth emergency plan? 

• At the time there is no youth specific emergency plan in place however, Covenant House has been taking a handful of clients on a direct referral/case by case basis and continues to participate in weekly shelter calls/updates. YA RRH is also functioning during this time. 

Can shelters take youth without consent?

• Shelters only take people on a voluntary basis, so we believe if the concern is involving isolation/quarantine, that this would be voluntarily as well. Anyone considered youth that is referred would be 18yrs or older in our system, making them legally allowed to make the decision to go or stay. 

What are we doing for young adults? 

• Currently there is no specific young adult plan of action, however, they are being included in the general emergency planning. There is no current data showing anyone will need to be moved to the overflow shelter.

What is being done to reduce transmission of COVID-19 among the unsheltered population? 

• Houston Police Department Homeless Outreach Team, Harris County Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Team, Harris Center street outreach, and Star of Hope street outreach are all still actively providing outreach services to unsheltered people. 
• The Coalition is providing guidance to outreach teams as it becomes available. Right now, CDC Guidance says that people living unsheltered should not be forcibly removed from their current living arrangements due to unintentional community spread and disconnection from services. 
• Handwashing stations have been installed in some high-traffic areas of Downtown Houston; a limited number of these sites also have porta potties as well. 
• The Coalition is working to get hand sanitizer to be distributed to people living unsheltered. Our understanding is that it has been ordered by local government but we are awaiting receipt. 
• The Coalition is working on an informational flier for people living unsheltered to be handed out by outreach teams, but we are awaiting guidance on what someone should do if they are living unsheltered and think they have contracted COVID-19. 

What plans are in place to test unsheltered people? 

• Outreach teams are able to access publicly available resources to secure testing for people living unsheltered. 
• The Coalition is working with local governments, public health departments, and partner agencies to secure additional resources for people experiencing homelessness including: dedicated transportation to a testing site; support staff while at the testing site (someone who can provide emotional/behavioral support as needed during the testing process); someplace where a person experiencing homelessness can wait for their test results in quarantine; access to discharge planning, including an assessment for permanent housing if one has not already been completed; someplace where a person experiencing homelessness can be isolated and receive care if they do test positive for COVID-19; and transportation back to their point of origin either after a negative test or after they have recovered from COVID-19.
• Some of these roles can be played by homeless service provider partners of The Way Home and some require healthcare expertise and capability.

How are basic needs being met for people who are living on the street? 

• Houston Police Department Homeless Outreach Team, Harris County Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Team, Harris Center street outreach, and Star of Hope street outreach are all still actively providing outreach services to unsheltered people. 
• The Coalition is providing guidance to outreach teams as it becomes available. Right now, CDC Guidance says that people living unsheltered should not be forcibly removed from their current living arrangements due to unintentional community spread and disconnection from services. 
• Handwashing stations have been installed in some high-traffic areas of Downtown Houston; a limited number of these sites also have porta potties as well. 
• The Coalition is working to get hand sanitizer to be distributed to people living unsheltered. Our understanding is that it has been ordered by local government but we are awaiting receipt. 
• The Coalition created an informational flier in partnership with City of Houston Health Department to be handed out by outreach teams.

Social distancing recommendations are that you should stand 6 feet away from someone. It can be very hard to hear/interact with a client from that distance - especially outside. If staff will be less than 6 feet away from a client, should my outreach staff be wearing gloves and/or masks? 

• Because outreach is not a controlled environment, it is recommended that staff wear masks and gloves - masks can be under the chin until needed. If you are handing someone something and they don’t touch you or sneeze on you, you have almost zero risk of contracting the virus. Someone does not become considered as having “close contact” until they have stood within 6 feet of someone who is displaying symptoms for longer than 6 minutes. If someone does hand you something, there is a chance the virus is on it. Staff should practice frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or if that isn’t possible, use hand sanitizer frequently. 

Can you tell me more about proper use of Personal Protective Equipment? 

• MASKS: It is ok to wear the same mask for an entire outreach shift. Staff should not discard their mask after every interaction unless it gets wet, is contaminated, and/or is falling apart.
• GLOVES: If a client is going to hand you something, wear gloves. Do not wear gloves and then proceed to touch your face. Gloves don’t have to be discarded unless you touch something that may be contaminated. If you forget to remove your gloves after touching something that might be contaminated and have touched other items/surfaces, you should clean them. If you are handing out items, you do not necessarily need to wear gloves. Wear gloves only if you think a person might touch you. 

When would outreach staff need to wear a face shield? 

• If someone might spit or cough at you, wear a face shield or even any kind of safety glasses since masks will not protect your eyes. 

If someone approaches an outreach staff and says “I am symptomatic,” what should the outreach worker do? 

• Ensure that the outreach staff practices the “6 feet for 6 minutes” rule. Outreach can assist the symptomatic person with accessing the online or phone screening at www.readyharris.org. 

Is meeting outside any safer than meeting indoors? 

• It may be slightly more safe. If someone coughs outdoors, the wind can help dissipate the droplets that contain the virus out of the immediate area as opposed to indoors where there may not be air circulation. However, indoors, droplets do not travel further out than 6 feet and then they do drop straight down. 

We must quickly design a safe and functional means to meet the basic needs of people living on the street, what resources are available to meet these needs? 

• The Beacon is open and feeding people 7 days a week, and is also allowing a handful of clients to enter for showers and other hygiene needs. The Beacon is also continuing to provide housing assessments.

We must quickly design a safe and functional means to meet the basic needs of people living on the street, what organizations will manage our various encampment locations?  

• The City and County HOT Teams, and other Outreach groups are managing encampments. They have also provided encampments with hygiene and supportive services. 

We must quickly design a safe and functional means to meet the basic needs of people living on the street, what assessment of the needs do we have? 

• We are continuing to focus on the needs of clients daily, please click here to view and support agencies in need of materials. 

Is testing being done in emergency shelters/congregate housing? 

• Testing is not currently being done on-site at emergency shelters or congregate housing. People experiencing homelessness currently access testing for COVID-19 the same way the public accesses testing. We are working with the City of Houston to coordinate transportation and additional support services for people experiencing homelessness as they get tested. 

What plans are in place to test sheltered people? 

• Shelter staff are able to access publicly available resources to secure testing for people living unsheltered. 
• The Coalition is working with local governments, public health departments, and partner agencies to secure additional resources for people experiencing homelessness including: dedicated transportation to a testing site; support staff while at the testing site (someone who can provide emotional/behavioral support as needed during the testing process); someplace where a person experiencing homelessness can wait for their test results in quarantine; access to discharge planning, including an assessment for permanent housing if one has not already been completed; someplace where a person experiencing homelessness can be isolated and receive care if they do test positive for COVID-19; and transportation back to their point of origin either after a negative test or after they have recovered from COVID-19.
• Some of these roles can be played by homeless service provider partners of The Way Home and some require healthcare expertise and capability.

Do shelter staff need Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to interact with clients? 

• Since social distancing is tough in congregate living environments, the answer would be yes if we had unlimited PPE. Unfortunately, PPE is limited and should only be used if needed - if no one is showing symptoms, there is no need for staff to wear PPE. Staff should wear N-95 masks when working with clients who are symptomatic and in isolation; symptomatic clients should wear surgical masks. 

At what point should my shelter consider shutting down and performing a shelter in place for all of our clients? 

• If there is a situation where there is communal living (bunk beds, for example) and someone in that room becomes symptomatic, everyone else in that room would meet the definition of having close contact. The symptomatic clients should be separated from the others and everyone else in that communal living room who meets the definition of close contact should self-isolate for 14 days. 

What happens if a person in an SRO contracts the virus? Would all residents living at the apartment complex have to self-isolate? Would staff? What would happen if the person refuses to self-isolate? 

• The person who contracted the virus should self-isolate in their SRO unit. Staff or other residents do not need to self-isolate unless they meet the definition of close contact (being closer than 6 feet to the person with the virus for longer than 6 minutes). If they do meet the definition of close contact, they should self-isolate in their unit for 14 days. If the person refuses a doctor’s order to self-isolate, a judge can enforce the orders with assistance from a Constable or Sheriff’s Deputy. 

How should I be screening people as they enter my shelter? 

• Click here to view recent guidance from the CDC on screening clients for intake at homeless shelters. 

I have clients in housing and they are wondering how maintenance requests are being handled during the COVID-19 crisis. 

• Click here to view recent guidance from the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs on maintenance requests during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Should case management staff enter a client’s apartment for a home visit? If yes, what precautions are recommended? 

• Case management staff should make the assumption that their client is infected and take precautions. Case managers should minimize the time they are in a client’s home, they should not sit down if they don’t have to, and they should keep the visit as brief as possible and not touch anything. It is essential that case management continue during this crisis - especially for those who have lost their income, or may become sick. Virtual visits are also an option and may work better in some or most cases during this time, especially for clients who have symptoms. 

If case managers do a home visit and only stand in a client’s doorway, do they need to wear a mask? 

• No, as long as case managers are practicing social distancing and “6 feet in 6 minutes” guidance. Droplets from coughing or sneezing typically do not travel further than 6 feet, so having a regular conversation with someone 6 feet away does not require a mask. 

Should staff wear gloves when completing documentation or paperwork with a client? 

• Case management staff should only wear gloves if clients will be handing you something. 

What are safe precautions to take while meeting with a client indoors? Can case managers meet with groups of less than 10 people indoors? 

• There is not a tested scientific basis for limiting groups to 10 or fewer - it was a reasonable number picked by federal government leaders. The idea is that the more people who get together in a single space, the greater the chance that one of them will have the virus and spread it to others. Social distancing is key, including making sure you do not stand closer than 6 feet to someone for longer than 6 minutes and limit the amount of time spent in groups. 

What are the barriers?

• We need HUD to support with written guidance, reasonable adjustments to operating procedures based on the enhanced risks to households experiencing homelessness to reduce the risk for people currently experiencing homelessness who are in need of housing assistance, for formerly homeless households, and for homeless service providers. We require adjustments that support the community to reduce risks of infection such as the waiving of HQS. We have been told that HUD is working on additional guidance regarding requirements for inspections. In the meantime, the health and safety of program participants, staff, and the public are the priority. Please follow the guidance of your local public health authorities.  

What plans are in place to provide care and treatment to people who are suspected or confirmed positive for COVID-19 but have nowhere to quarantine or isolate? 

• The Coalition is working in partnership with partners of The Way Home and local government to activate resources including the creation of a site where someone can either quarantine while they await test results or because they suspect exposure, or isolate and receive care after a positive test result. 
• In a facility like this, there are roles that homeless service providers can play (behavioral health support, discharge planning) but there are critical roles that must be filled by people with healthcare expertise and resources. 
• The City and County are working on standing up a facility like this as soon as possible and it would be accessible to anyone suspected of infection or with confirmed infection from COVID-19 who has nowhere else to quarantine or isolate. 

Questions and answers coming soon! 

Is match required for new ESG dollars? 

• Below is a quick list of all things different with funds through the CARES Act:
• (INDENT) 100% match not required
• (INDENT) Ability to serve Program Participants up to 50% AMI
• (INDENT) 60% cap on emergency shelter or street outreach would not apply
• (INDENT) Environmental and habitability waiver of temporary shelters
• (INDENT) Increase in ESG Administrative funds

I receive ESG funding and have questions about eviction suspension during the COVID-19.

• Click here to view the guidance from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 

I recieve ESG funding and have questions about habitability inspections during COVID-19.  

• Click Here to view the guidance from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 

How much money will the Houston area be receiving from the federal COVID-19 recovery grants? 

• Click here to view a press release from Senator John Cornyn's office with informataion about funding coming to the Houston area. 

I receive ESG funding and have questions about ESG policies, ESG eligible costs and COVID-19.

• Click here to view guidance from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 

Will there be any new resources for homelessness as a result of the COVID-19 public health crisis? 

• Yes! Click here to view a preliminary summary of funding awarded for homelessness in response to the COVID-19 crisis. 

I receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding - where can I find information about that funding and COVID-19? 

• Click here to view a Q&A about CDBG funding and COVID-19. 

Can I use Continuum of Care (CoC) funding for COVID-19 preparedness and response? 

• Click here for guidance from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development on using CoC funds for infectious disease prerparedness and response.