|
We enter 2022 at a concerning inflection point in the COVID-19 pandemic with the rapid expansion of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As you know, cases are rapidly rising with outbreaks across the state impacting people experiencing homelessness and staff who serve them.
In the media and across social networks, information swirls about the Omicron variant and how it compares to past variants. We know that parsing this information is difficult, especially when evidence is limited. As Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Director of Infectious Diseases Kris Ehresmann put it last week, “If I’ve learned anything in the last two years, I guess it’s to be a little bit cautious about predictions.”
We do know that people experiencing homelessness face greater risks from COVID than the general population, with higher rates of hospitalization and ICU admittance. Currently, people experiencing unsheltered homelessness who contract COVID are nine times more likely to be hospitalized and eight times more likely to be admitted to the ICU than the general population.
We also know that the strategies you are using work. This pandemic has stretched us all in ways we have never been stretched before, and the surging cases statewide continue to push us to new limits. Please continue to be vigilant in your settings to protect people and to ensure the continuation of critically important support. Our team is so grateful for all you are doing to keep your doors open and your willingness to continue to step into new roles and do whatever is needed as our circumstances continue to shift. Please remember there are resources available right now to assist you in this response. As we face the challenges Omicron poses, your efforts to help everyone get vaccinated and mitigate COVID’s spread remain our most important defense.
Please join us tomorrow from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. for the weekly provider webinar. Our team will review again the available funding, provide updates, and be available to answer your questions.
If you have any questions about your registration, email Elizabeth Dressel.
To support congregate settings in the response to Omicron, the eligibility for Fiscal Recovery Funds for Shelter (FRF-Shelter) from the DHS Office of Economic Opportunity have been expanded as follows:
- Congregate shelters do not need to have a current COVID outbreak to apply for FRF-Shelter funding under the survey. We have made this change recognizing that with the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, more shelters may face outbreaks and could use these resources to prepare.
- During an outbreak, the Isolation and Quarantine activity can be expanded to include protective spaces for those not yet testing positive, if recommended by MDH or local public health.
- In addition to the existing eligible expenses outlined on the Heading Home Alliance website, providers are encouraged to consider COVID-mitigation expenses in the “Other” Activity Category that may be essential to an Omicron response. These include (but are not limited to):
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Pulse Oximeters
- Expanded testing/test kits (including tests sold in stores if necessary)
- Medical transportation to/from appointments or testing and vaccination sites.
- On-site medical monitoring if available
The survey to request funding can be found on the Heading Home Alliance website. Answers to frequently asked questions and additional information can be found on the funding page. If you have additional questions, please email Andrea Simonett.
DHS and its fiscal processor will make every effort to approve and disburse funds quickly. Applicants should anticipate that it will take at least two weeks from the request date for funds to be received.
The next webinar Speakers Bureau will be on Wednesday, January 12 at 1:00 p.m. There is still space to sign up to speak. Help us spread the word about this opportunity with the people you work with. Anyone who has lived experience of homelessness is welcome to sign-up to share through the Speakers Bureau. This will be open time each month for lived experience experts to share ideas and feedback with the webinar audience. All the details can be found on this flyer.
There is a monthly optional prep session held the Tuesday before the webinar. The January prep session will be Tuesday, January 11 from 3:00-3:30 p.m. Follow this link to join the optional prep session.
Please email elizabeth.dressel@state.mn.us or call Elizabeth at 651-248-5548 with any questions or to sign up to join the Speakers Bureau. This will be an ongoing opportunity each month. Anyone is welcome to sign up for future months as well.
|
