A Clinical Resource Guide for Community Care Centers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

VA's National Center on Homelessness among Veterans and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council collaborated to create A Clinical Resource Guide for Community Care Centers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. The intent of this guide is to raise a holistic awareness of the various complex needs of people experiencing homelessness who are residing in community care centers which provide 24/7 shelter, urgent care/medical respite level of care, and COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures. The guide has been divided into volumes for ease of use. Volume I reviews elements needed to create a supportive and inclusive tone. Volume II provides information on basic medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Volume III reflects on prevalent health conditions. This guide is not intended to provide standard operating practices, policies, medical direction, or recommendations on facility layout, staffing, or other operational aspects, nor is it intended to replace an evaluation by a medical professional. Instead, this guide captures in one document the social and medical complexities that community care center staff may face. Ultimately, this guide aims to support the health and safety of vulnerable individuals while they are receiving care in community care centers, as well as encourage a holistic approach to connecting community care center residents to ongoing health care and social supports that can promote their longer-term stability.

The 508 compliant version of A Clinical Resource Guide for Community Care Centers During the COVID-19 Pandemic may be accessed on VA's Homeless Programs Office COVID-2019 website (under Information for Service Providers Helping Veterans Who are Experiencing Homelessness) and VA's Homeless Programs Office  Outreach Tools site (Under Medical Booklets).

A big thank you to all the authors and reviewers internal and external to the VA as well as staff and contractors from VA’s Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs who contributed to the creation of this guide.