IHCDA continues to monitor the situation with COVID-19 in Indiana as circumstances change and additional information becomes available. To provide transparency and customer service, IHCDA will update this list with any new policies/procedures as they become available. These updates will be provided on a weekly basis for the foreseeable future.

Updated Resources

Updated Resource List:

IHCDA has a list of updated resources available through our website.  We highly encourage all organizations serving the homeless to coordinate with their regional chair as well as their local health department, city/county government, township trustees, and key emergency assistance providers.  It is important to be as proactive as possible in this situation.

• CoC BoS Updates: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/4458.htm
• IHCDA overall updates: Many IHCDA departments and divisions are working through guidance for their sub-recipients and partners. You can find those updates on our website here: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/4459.htm

This week, we have added the following updates in our resource list on our website:

• HUD Updates:
  • Encampment guidelines and best practices: https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/5997/covid19-essential-services-for-encampments-during-an-infectious-disease-outbreak/?utm_source=HUD+Exchange+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=aecae2877f-SNAPS-COVID-19-Digest-04-6-20&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f32b935a5f-aecae2877f-19509485
• State of Indiana Updates:
  • IHCDA:
    • Mega Waiver/CARE Act Funding: Our team is working through next steps on both items for the CoC, ESG, and HOPWA funds for the Balance of State. We will send a separate email to subrecipients regarding the waiver by the end of the week; additional information on the funding will be forthcoming as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience!
    • How to request a waiver on a state code/variance: An isolation shelter had challenges with a 30-day variance in the state code. If your shelter runs into this issue, you should contact Department of Homeland Security and their Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission.  Below is their website and direct contact.
      • Department of Homeland Security Commission: http://www.in.gov/dhs/2375.htm
      • Main Contact: Douglas Boyle, DoBoyle@dhs.in.gov
    • HMIS Updates: We have added new guides on our website to help screen individuals and guide case managers on entering them into the system.
  • FSSA:
    • Mental Health/Addiction Resources: The Division of Mental Health and Addition has created an updated list of resources from the division of mental health and addition, as well as a status list on providers is available on their website here: https://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/3495.htm
  • OCRA:
    • Recent Webinar on COVID program: https://www.in.gov/ocra/3010.htm

Important Lists: Openings, Available Local Resources

Isolation Shelter Locations:

• The following CoC regions are in the process of setting up an isolation location for individuals who have tested positive and/or have signs of symptoms. Region 1, 1a, 2, 2a, 4, 5, 10, 12, 13.
  • For a list of all regional chairs and their contact: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/4147.htm
• If your region is setting up an isolation shelter, please contact Elby Hilton at elhilton@ihcda.in.gov to be added to our list.

Regional Updates:

• Homeless Organization Status List by Region: To help communities understand what is available to them in their regions, we have asked regional chairs to submit status updates on organizations serving the homeless to us.
  • Regional Chairs can complete the form on a weekly basis here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecXK1zdjM8He9Qhg0zxNr7nMSdaHKCFFP21m51zD0biJb-_Q/viewform
  • The updated list will soon be on our website here: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/4458.htm

Other Lists:

• ISDH Public Health Regions: ISDH has put together a map of regional contacts for public health needs across the state. You can find that information here: https://www.in.gov/isdh/26777.htm
• Food Opportunity Lists: FSSA has put together a list of places individuals can still find free/reduced food resources. The full list is updated weekly and available here: https://www.in.gov/fssa/dfr/5768.htm
• Department of Corrections Community Resource List: This is a compilation of resources that are available across the state. The updated list can be found on our website here: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/4458.htm

Best Practice Updates

Sample Indiana Documents:

• Below are several samples from the Indiana field that may assist during this time. You can find these resources on our website here: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/4458.htm
  • New:
    • ICADV has offered several sample policies and guides for COVID-19 response. Updates on our website include EEOC and survivor guidance.
    • FSSA created a referral letter for people experiencing homelessness which will soon be available on our website.
    • CHIP Indy’s screening tools and flowchart samples will be on our website soon.

Best Practices Webinars-National Partners

• US Interagency Council to end Homelessness: Hosted a webinar recently with best practices from Seattle/King county.
  • https://www.usich.gov/tools-for-action/webinar-reinforcing-the-homelessness-crisis-response-system-lessons-learned-from-seattle-king-county
• National Low-Income Housing and the Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition hosted a webinar with updates from Congress and other organizations across the nation. The recording is available here: https://nlihc.org/resource/recording-nlihcs-march-30-coronavirus-homelessness-and-housing-call-now-available?utm_source=NLIHC+All+Subscribers&utm_campaign=a497193ba3-Memo_040620&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e090383b5e-a497193ba3-293245113&ct=t(Memo_040620)
  • Template for language to avoid closing encampments was included. That is available here: https://nlchp.org/coronavirus/

IHCDA Updates/Reminders

Webinar Dates:

• CE Coordinators and Regional Chairs Weekly Meeting starting Mar 26, 2020 12:15 PM EDT at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5976398057594530317After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
• CoC Recipients Weekly Meeting starting Mar 26, 2020 1:30 PM EDT at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/3667377459777031437 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
• HOPWA, TANF, ESG Recipients Weekly Meeting starting Mar 26, 2020 3:30 PM EDT at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2993243791043288589 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
• HMIS Weekly Meeting starting Mar 31, 2020 12:00 PM EDT at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3946817240464878349 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Sub-recipient Question

Below is a contact listing of the Community Services division team. Please direct any questions to the appropriate contact for each category.

Grants: If you have a question or concerns about funding/grants during this time, please reach out to the CS Grants team for answers. 

• General Questions: communityservices@ihcda.in.gov or Kristin Garvey, Grants Manager (krigarvey@ihcda.in.gov)
• ESG, HOPWA, TANF: Diane Walker; DiWalker@ihcda.IN.gov
• CoC Funds: Candace Jameson (CaJameson@ihcda.IN.gov) or Alex Taylor (AlTaylor@ihcda.IN.gov)
• Coordinated Entry Funding: Candace Jameson (CaJameson@ihcda.in.gov)

HMIS: If you have a question or concerns about HMIS during this time, please reach out to the CS HMIS Team for answers: 

• HMIS: HMIS Help Desk (HMIShelpdesk@ihcda.in.gov) or Grant Peters (GPeters@ihcda.IN.gov)
• Coordinated Entry Technical Assistance: Lori Wood (LWood1@ihcda.in.gov)

COVID-19: For general questions/concerns about the COVID-19 response, please contact: 

• Elby Hilton, Director of Community Services; elhilton@ihcda.in.gov