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Topics and Issues for Providers Serving People Experiencing Homelessness
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February 15, 2022
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As we shared in the special edition newsletter late last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidance documents for homeless shelters and encampments.
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Updated quarantine and isolation guidance for clients and staff of homeless service to recommend a 10-day isolation and quarantine period regardless of vaccination and booster status.
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Clarified that staff and clients may follow general population guidance to end isolation or quarantine in other community settings. For example, staff can follow general population guidance for activities other than returning to work, such as grocery shopping.
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Addressed options for shortening the duration of quarantine or isolation during crisis situations (i.e., severe staffing shortages).
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Removed references to “fully vaccinated” to refer instead to being “up to date on COVID-19 vaccines.”
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Included a list of factors that homeless service providers should consider when making decisions about when to modify facility-level COVID-19 prevention measures.
Join the weekly provider webinar tomorrow from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. to walk through the guidance and changes with the MDH congregate living team and get any questions you may have answered.
If you have any questions about your registration, please email Elizabeth Dressel.
The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) continues to have Federal Fiscal Recovery Funds available to support rapid responses to COVID-19 in shelters and other temporary congregate settings for people experiencing homelessness or domestic violence. The funding is currently available to these settings and there is no longer a requirement to document an active COVID-19 outbreak:
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Congregate emergency shelter that have homelessness as a criteria for entry, have shared bedrooms/sleeping areas, bathrooms or dining areas, and is either listed in the HUD Housing Inventory Chart as an emergency shelter or transitional housing program, or receives funding designated for emergency shelter from a public source, or is licensed as an emergency shelter.
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Day shelter or drop-in day center with the primary purpose of providing temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness and/or victims of domestic violence.
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Street outreach programs serving encampments.
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The applicant for funds must be a nonprofit, local unit of government, or Tribal Nation.
The funding can support a broad range of activities as a setting responds to COVID including:
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Wages for staff who must isolation or quarantine due to COVID exposure, so staff do not need to use personal paid time off to cover isolation/quarantine period or go without pay.
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Hiring temporary emergency staff to fill shifts in an emergency when staff are isolating or quarantining due to COVID.
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Hazard pay for staff who are directly working in the shelter setting or isolation and/or quarantine space. Applicants must provide a detailed budget narrative including number of staff, hourly increase/amount, and comply with the current Treasury Dept. Interim Regulations for Fiscal Recovery Funds (FRF), which include important limitations on hazard pay (referred to as “premium pay” in the regulations).
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Operating costs for quarantine and/or isolation space, including standing isolation/quarantine space available to persons experiencing homelessness in the community. The funding can support the staffing, food, and operating costs of the quarantine and/or isolation space.
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Other needs as defined by the setting that could help manage a provider’s response to COVID. This could include transportation to testing or medical appointments and the purchasing of testing kits. These are flexible funds, and the review committee is open to other uses that will protect shelter guests and staff during an active outbreak.
The survey to request funding and additional details on the funding can be found on the Heading Home Alliance website. Surveys for funding are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, and eligible entities can request prospective funding for 30 days at a time. Programs can apply for retroactive expenses back to December 21, 2021, without needing to demonstrate that they met the criteria for an active outbreak during that time. If you have additional questions, please check out the frequently asked questions on the Heading Home Alliance website or email Andrea Simonett.
The Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness is a cabinet-level body led by Lt. Governor Flanagan and is comprised of the commissioners of 13 state agencies and the chair of the Metropolitan Council. It is accountable for leading the state’s efforts to move towards housing, health, and racial justice for people experiencing homelessness.
The Council is holding their next meeting on Wednesday, February 23 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The agenda includes an overview of the COVID response efforts and a kick-off presentation and discussion on the first phase of work to create a justice-oriented strategic plan. These meetings are open to the public and you can register for a link to join here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from GoToWebinar containing information about joining the meeting.
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Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Behavioral Health Division is seeking to provide supportive services for people with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who are homeless or exiting institutions who have complex needs and face high barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing. Services provided will assist people to transition to and sustain Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) which meets the PSH Evidence-Based Practice fidelity standards. Proposals must also address one or more of the behavioral health priorities of program linkage, peer services, veterans, and equity. Find the RFP materials and additional information on DHS’ open grants and RFP website. Proposals are due on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. CT.
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Minnesota Housing is seeking proposals from providers for up to $9 million to award Housing Stability Services funding through the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program established by the American Rescue Plan of 2021. The Housing Stability Services funds may be used for two specific activities: eviction prevention services and housing navigation services. Direct assistance such as rent, utilities, or other housing related payments are not eligible expenses. Application materials are due on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) CT. For application materials and more information on eligible entities and how to apply, visit Minnesota Housing’s website. Please email Michelle Doyal at mhfa.hss@state.mn.us, with any questions.
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We have updated the Heading Home Alliance funding page to summarize the resources available to help programs and settings supporting people experiencing homelessness respond to COVID-19. Those resources include Shelter Outbreak Funds, the Minnesota Shelter Emergency Staffing Pool, Vaccine Incentive funding, and the Trusted Messenger program. Find more detail on each of these resources on the Heading Home Alliance funding page.
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Applications are being accepted for an open vacancy on the Task Force on Shelter through the Secretary of State’s open appointments site. Apply online for the open position of a representative from an organization that advocates on behalf of persons with disabilities. You can find out more about the Task Force’s work to date here.
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