Monkeypox situation updates and resources on webinar tomorrow; Additional COVID-19 Resources from MDH

Minnesota Housing sent this bulletin at 08/09/2022 06:10 PM CDT

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Topics and Issues for Providers Serving People Experiencing Homelessness

August 9, 2022

Monkeypox Situation Update and Additional Resources

As of August 9, there have been 55 cases of monkeypox (MPX) confirmed in Minnesota, including one case among a person experiencing homelessness. MPX is not as easily spread as COVID-19. While MPX can be transmitted through clothing, bedding, or towels that has been in direct contact with a person with MPX, it is primarily spreading through sustained close and/or skin-to-skin contact, such as kissing, hugging, or sex. MDH staff will present on the Weekly Provider Webinar tomorrow, August 10, about MPX and what congregate settings and other homeless service providers can do to prevent the spread of MPX and respond to cases in their programs.

Monkeypox (MPX) resources from MDH are regularly updated with confirmed MPX cases in Minnesota; basic information about symptoms, prevention, testing, and treatment; vaccine allocation and eligibility; guidance for health care professionals.
Monkeypox resources from CDC includes information about signs and symptoms, prevention, transmission, treatment, outbreak data, and links to detailed recommendations for health care providers; as well as Considerations for Reducing Monkeypox Transmission in Congregate Living Settings (updated on 8/4)
Sample guidance from other communities:
- Monkeypox Guidance for Alameda County Homeless Shelter and Services Providers
- New York State Health Advisory: Monkeypox Cases in Non-healthcare Congregate Settings

Join the weekly webinar tomorrow from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.to hear from MDH and ask questions. If you have any questions about your registration, please email Elizabeth Dressel.

Click here to Register for the Webinars

Additional COVID-19 Resources from the MDH Team and Case Update

MDH has added two new resources on their website for congregate living facilities:

COVID-19 Testing and Case Reporting Resources for Shelter and Correctional Settings (PDF). This is a list of testing resources available to shelters instructions for ordering various tests. This document also includes instructions for reporting test results and a chart to help facilities select the best testing option for their situation.
COVID-19 Therapeutics Checklist for Shelter and Correctional Settings (PDF). This document outlines steps for accessing COVID-19 therapeutics and includes a list of resources to support high-risk congregate living facilities in helping eligible residents access COVID-19 medications.

Additionally, MDH encourages facilities to onboard the testing contractor, HHSI, now if they anticipate using HHSI to conduct pop-up testing or specimen processing in the future. Onboarding early, before facilities have an urgent need for testing, will help to ensure a smooth and timely testing experience if and when an outbreak occurs and testing is needed. Facilities interested in onboarding with HHSI can contact the COVID-19 Highly Impacted Settings team at Health.R-congregate@state.mn.us to get the process started.

Cases among people experiencing homelessness and the staff who support continues to remain steady. The MDH team continues to monitor cases and our team continues to plan alongside local public health and emergency management on ways to be best prepared to support people experiencing homelessness through any future surges.

HomeHelpMN: More time to apply

HomeHelpMN has lifted the August deadline for applying. Homeowners with past-due mortgage payments and other eligible housing expenses can now apply for assistance as long as funds remain. While this removes August 17 as a deadline, homeowners should still apply as soon as possible.

Fund availability depends on the number of eligible homeowners who apply and the amount of assistance requested. A submitted application is not a guarantee of funding availability. The program budgeted $109 million to help homeowners who experienced a reduction in income or an increase in household expenses as a result of the pandemic. As of July 31, over 4,300 homeowners had requested assistance. While there is now no application deadline, homeowners with past-due expenses are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

The HomeHelpMN dashboard is available on the program website. To begin an application or learn more, visit HomeHelpMN.org or call 800-388-3226.

Other Updates

The Minnesota Shelter Emergency Staffing Pool continues to be available. This initiative provides temporary staff to congregate settings serving people experiencing homelessness or domestic violence to support settings that are experiencing acute COVID-19 related staffing challenges. This free resource is offered through a partnership between ServeMinnesota and Worldwide Travel Staffing. It does not require eligible settings to cover any of the costs of the temporary staff and there are staff ready to deploy. Both nonprofit and for-profit congregate settings serving people experiencing homelessness and domestic violence and are experiencing staffing impacts from an active COVID-19 outbreak are eligible to apply. You can fill out the application for emergency staffing support online. If you have questions about the application or process, please send an email to Naomi Zuk-Fisher, ServeMN consultant and Minnesota Shelter Emergency Staffing Pool lead.  
Help us spread the word about a new newsletter for engagement opportunities for people who have experienced or are currently facing homelessness. The Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness is building a new newsletter list to share opportunities for people who have faced or are currently facing homelessness to share their input, ideas, and expertise. Interested individuals can sign up for the newsletter by filling out this form. We will share a range of opportunities in this newsletter from state agencies and partner organizations and the newsletter will be sent out as opportunities are available. Please email elizabeth.dressel@state.mn.us if you have any questions.

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