Search for: COVID-19 Join Donate FollowFollow Find Best Practices and Research View resources on health care and homelessness. FIND Immediate Help Now Browse homeless service organizations near you. TAKE ACTION TO End Homelessness Lift your voice for health care and housing justice! REQUEST Technical Assistance Request advice or training in homeless health care. COVID-19 and People Experiencing Homelessness Resources and Guidance ; Our COVID-19 CommitmentPeople experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable in the COVID-19 pandemic, and the NHCHC is creating resources and collecting guidance to help meet their needs during this evolving crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic is evolving quickly, and new resources are emerging daily. This regularly updated page features key guidance and resources from the NHCHC, our partners, federal agencies, and frontline providers from the Health Care for the Homeless community. Resources are listed by topic. Can’t find what you’re looking for, have something to share with us, or need technical assistance? Contact Technical Assistance Manager Michael Durham. For press inquiries, contact Terri Woodmore, Communications Manager. Stay Informed Subscribe to our mailing list to receive regular updates on people without homes and COVID-19. Thank you for signing up! You will now receive emails from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. First Name Last Name Email Subscribe Most Recent Council Resources & Guidance View our upcoming discussions with providers and experts leading COVID-19 response efforts and browse our archived webinars. Telehealth COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Ensuring Access to Care Through State Medicaid Telehealth Policies COVID-19 Data & HCH COVID-19 Data Dashboard: Comparative Data for Health Care for the Homeless Vaccines for Patients and Staff COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Vaccines for Patients and Staff CDC COVID Dashboard Universal COVID-19 Testing at Homeless Service Sites Federal, National, and Local Guidance Blank General Information on COVID-19 and Homeless Populations Guidance from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council Issue Brief #7: COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Further Illustrating the Benefits of ‘Medicare-for-All’ Webinar: COVID-19 Coffee Chat: Continuity of Care for Residents in Permanent Supportive Housing (May 12, 2020) COVID-19 Data Dashboard: Health Care for the Homeless Comparative Data Issue Brief #2: COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Needed Actions from Public Health and Emergency Response Systems Issue Brief #1: COVID & the HCH Community: Needed Policy Responses for a High-Risk Group Things to Do During the COVID-19 Crisis If You Have Diabetes Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Homeless Shelters and Homeless Service Providers Our COVID-19 Blog: Insights from the Field Shareable Infographics COVID-19 Videos and Webinars Guidance from Federal Agencies Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Coronavirus Disease 2019: landing page with key information and updates CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary CDC: Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19 CDC: FAQ on Homelessness CDC: Information on People Experiencing Homelessness CDC: About Coronavirus Disease 2019: symptoms, prevention, and treatment CDC: Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations CDC: Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) CDC: Youth Experiencing Homelessness CDC: Checklist for Homeless Service Providers During Community Re-opening Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): General Information and Resources HUD: New Integrated Approaches to Minimize the COVID-19 Risk and Address Rehousing Needs HUD: Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease for People Experiencing Homelessness HUD: Infectious Disease Preparedness Webinar with HUD, CDC, NHCHC, and Seattle-King County HUD: Infectious Disease Toolkit for CoCs Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions HRSA: Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Resources for Health Centers webpage Department of Health and Human Services: Coronavirus Resources (Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response) Guidance from National Organizations COVID-19 Resource Guide (Homebase) Corporation for Supportive Housing: Resources for care coordination and supportive housing Beyond the Food Pantry: COVID-19 Response for Students Who are Homeless or With Experience in Foster Care (SchoolHouse Connection) Guidance from Local Programs Webinar: COVID-19 Coffee Chat: Clinical Pandemic Response for People Without Homes—Insights from Seattle & King County (March 27, 2020) Our Washington colleagues at Seattle-King County’s Health Care for the Homeless network are at the epicenter of the US outbreak and are rapidly and continuously producing guidance for service providers. Follow their webpage closely for regularly updated resources, such as a COVID-19 Preparedness Planning Guide, Interim Guidance on COVID-19 for Homeless Service Providers, Response Assessments, Sanitation and Hygiene Guides, and more. Interim Guidance: Preventing Spread of COVID-19 among Persons Experiencing Homelessness (San Francisco Department of Public Health, CA) Coronavirus FAQ (Valley Homeless Healthcare Program of Santa Clara County, CA) Health Care for the Homeless COVID-related guidance (Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless, Alameda County, CA) COVID-19 and Homelessness Resource Guide (Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, Hartford, CA) Coronavirus FAQ (Valley Homeless Healthcare Program of Santa Clara County, CA) Related guidance and other documents (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority) All COVID-related policies: scroll down for homeless- and health-related guidance (Western New York Law Center, New York) COVID-19 Guidance from Hawaii (State of Hawaii) Shelters, Medical Respite Care, Alternate Care Sites, and I&Q Facilities Guidance from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council Issue Brief: COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Six Crises Leading into Winter 2020 (December 2020) Infographic: COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Six Crises Leading into Winter 2020 (December 2020) Webinar: Winter is Coming: Cold Weather & Disasters (November 13, 2020) Webinar: Winter is Coming: Flu & COVID-19 (November 6, 2020) Webinar: COVID-19 Coffee Chat: The Role of Medical Respite Care in COVID-19 Response (April 10, 2020) COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Medical Respite Care & Alternative Care Sites Reducing Harm for People Using Drugs & Alcohol During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Guide for ACS Programs COVID & the HCH Community: Needed Policy Responses for a High-Risk Group Federal Agencies HUD: Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19 by Watching for These Possible Symptoms / Spanish Version HUD: Cleaning Activities: You Know You’re Ready When You Have / Spanish Version HUD: Facility Layout: You Know You’re Ready When You Have / Spanish Version HUD: What to Do in a Shelter When Someone Shows COVID-19 Symptoms / Spanish Version HUD: Staff Capacity: Considerations for Scaling Up HUD: COVID-19 Homeless System Response: Winter Planning Resources HUD: Mitigating the Spread: Washington DC Shelter Profile HUD: Homeless System Response: Supporting Individuals Exiting Isolation or Quarantine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Guidance for Alternate Care Sites and Isolation Sites Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): COVID-19: Shelter Management During an Infectious Disease Outbreak (also en Español) HUD: Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease within Shelters HUD: Non-Congregate Approaches to Sheltering for COVID-19 Homeless Response National Organizations Community Solutions and the National Law Center on on Homelessness & Poverty: Guidance on Leasing of Hotels by Governmental Entities for Use as Temporary Shelters for Quarantining of Homeless Persons During the COVID-19 Pandemic American Hotel & Lodging Association: Hotel-Hospital COVID-19 Response Playbook Local Programs Chicago Homelessness and Health Response Group for Equity: COVID-19 Response Report Webinar: COVID-19 Coffee Chat: Structuring I/Q Sites for People Experiencing Homelessness: Examples and Guidance from Alameda County’s Project Roomkey (May 5, 2020) Coronavirus guidance for congregate living facilities (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, CA) Edward Thomas House Medical Respite COVID-19 (C-19) Protocol (Seattle & King County, WA) Edward Thomas House: Medical Respite Webinar and Resources (Seattle & King County, WA) COVID-19 Respite Facility for People Experiencing Homelessness (City of New Haven, CT) Guidance: Referring Persons Experiencing Homelessness with COVID-19 Symptoms But Not Yet Diagnosed with COVID-19 Disease to Isolation in Individual Hotel Rooms (Heartland Alliance Health in Chicago, IL) Operation Comfort: Alameda County Emergency Hotel Shelter Handbook (Alameda County, CA) Columbus, OH: Guidelines for establishing hotel/motels as isolation, quarantine, respite or emergency shelters (Coalition on Homeless and Housing in Ohio) Guidance to Shelter Providers and Other Community Partners in Operating Under COVID-19 Requirements (Monroe County Shelter Bed Task Group, Monroe County, NY) Unsheltered, Encampments, Outreach Guidance from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council Webinar: COVID-19 Coffee Chat: Organizing Showers & Hygiene Access for People Living Outside (October 9, 2020) Webinar: COVID-19 Coffee Chat: Addressing the Pandemic in Rural Communities (May 15, 2020) Webinar: COVID-19 Coffee Chat: Reaching Unsheltered People (April 3, 2020) Quick Information: Responding to COVID-19 Among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness Guidance from Federal Agencies HUD: COVID-19 Homeless System Response: Winter Planning Resources HUD: Protecting Health and Well-being of People in Encampments During an Infectious Disease Outbreak Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease within Encampments CDC: COVID-19: Essential Services for Encampments During an Infectious Disease Outbreak CDC: Interim Guidance for Responding to COVID-19 among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness CDC: Interim Guidance on Unsheltered Homelessness and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for Homeless Service Providers and Local Officials Guidance from National Organizations Request technical assistance on organizing mobile showers and hygiene access from LavaMaeËŁ Street Medicine Institute: Street Medicine Practice During the COVID-19 Epidemic Guidance from Local Programs Pandemic Handbook for Outreach Workers Visiting Encampments (Neighborhood Health, Nashville, TN) Interim Guidance for Safe Sleeping Villages to Reduce the Risk of COVID-19 (San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA) Interim Guidance for Safe Sleeping for Unsheltered Persons Experiencing Homelessness to Reduce the Risk of COVID-19 (San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA) Testing, Screening, and PPE Guidance from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council Webinar: Testing for COVID-19 in Homeless Shelters & Encampments: Discussing CDC’s New Health Department Guidance & NHCHC’s Newest Issue Brief (July 10, 2020) Issue Brief #6: COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Strategies for Proactive Universal Testing Issue Brief #4: COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Comprehensive Testing & Services For People Experiencing Homelessness Quick Information: How to Use Personal Protective Equipment: A Quick Reference Guide for Frontline Clinical Providers Webinar: COVID-19 Coffee Chat: Testing for COVID-19 in Homeless Shelters (May 4, 2020) Guidance from Federal Agencies CDC: Interim Considerations for Health Departments for SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Homeless Shelters and Encampments U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Report to Congress: COVID-19 Strategic Testing Plan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Screening Clients for Respiratory Infection Symptoms at Entry to Homeless Shelters Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): COVID-19: How to Screen Clients Upon Entry to Shelter or Opportunity Centers CDC: Evaluating and Reporting Persons Under Investigation (PUI) CDC: PPE: Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings CDC: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: COVID-19 Outbreak Among Three Affiliated Homeless Service Sites — King County, Washington, 2020 CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Prevalence in Homeless Shelters — Four U.S. Cities, March 27–April 15, 2020 Guidance from National Organizations Jacksonville Case Study: COVID-19 Testing Pilot (Community Solutions) The DIY Face Shield Project: Improvising PPE Guidance from Local Programs Positive COVID-19 Test Result Workflow (Houston) Workflow for individual screening, testing, and isolation (Greensboro, NC) COVID-19 Congregate Homeless Shelter Response (Baltimore City, MD) Universal COVID-19 Testing for People Experiencing Homelessness (Mercy Care, Atlanta, GA) COVID Homeless Screener with Temperature and Screening Supply List (Heartland Alliance Health) Patient attestation forms: English and Spanish (Boston Public Health Commission, Boston, MA) Guidance: Referring Persons Experiencing Homelessness with COVID-19 Positive Test Results (Heartland Alliance Health, Chicago, IL) Guidance on the Discharge of High-Risk COVID-19 Persons Under Investigation (PUI) or Confirmed Cases (Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL) COVID-19 Client Triage Tool: Atlanta CoC Example (Atlanta, GA) Health Screening Tool (RI) Academic Research Characteristics of COVID-19 in Homeless Shelters: A Community-Based Surveillance Study (September 2020, Rogers, et al., Annals of Internal Medicine) COVID-19 Outbreak at a Large Homeless Shelter in Boston: Implications for Universal Testing (Research by Travis P. Baggett, Harrison Keyes, Nora Sporn, and Jessie M. Gaeta) Vaccines Guidance from Federal Agencies Questions to Assist CoCs and Public Health Authorities to Plan and Prepare for Vaccine Distribution (HUD) Vaccine Planning and Distribution: Roles and Responsibilities for Homeless Service Providers (HUD) COVID-19 Vaccination for People Experiencing Homelessness: Frequently Asked Questions (CDC) Sub-prioritization of Healthcare Personnel for COVID-19 vaccination (CDC) Vaccination Communication Toolkit For Medical Centers, Clinics, and Clinicians (CDC) Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination (CDC) How CDC Is Making COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations (CDC) 8 Things to Know about Vaccine Planning (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccine Homepage (FDA) Guidance from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council NHCHC Poverty Policy Podcast: Episode 13: Vaccines Webinar: COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Vaccines for Patients and Staff Issue Brief: COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Vaccines for Patients and Staff Guidance from Local Programs Homeless Health Care Providers and the COVID-19 Vaccine (Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless) Telemedicine Guidance from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Ensuring Access to Care Through State Medicaid Telehealth Policies (November 2020) Building the Plane While Flying It: Health Care for the Homeless, Telehealth and COVID-19, Part II (September 2020) Building the Plane While Flying It: Case Studies on COVID-19, Telehealth, and Health Care for the Homeless Centers (August 2020) Webinar: COVID-19 Coffee Chat: Using Telehealth Services for Patient Care (May 2020) Guidance from Federal Agencies Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA): Buprenorphine and Telemedicine COVID-19 Guidance Federal Communications Commission: COVID-19 Telehealth Program Guidance from National Organizations Launching a Toolkit for Safety Net Clinics Implementing Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic (The Commonwealth Fund) General Telehealth Resources (National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers) COVID-19 Telehealth Coverage Policies (Center for Connected Health Policy) COVID-19 Telehealth Resources (Northeast Telehealth Resource Center) Telehealth Resources for COVID-19 Toolkit (Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center) Behavioral Health/Harm Reduction Guidance from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council Webinar: COVID-19 Coffee Chat: Avoiding Civil Detention: Responding to Clients Who Violate Isolation Orders (April 24, 2020) Webinar: COVID-19 Coffee Chat: Supporting Clients’ Mental Health During Isolation and Quarantine (April 17, 2020) Reducing Harm for People Using Drugs & Alcohol During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Guide for ACS Programs Harm Reduction: Preparing People for Change: An Online Course of with the National Alliance to End Homelessness’s COVID-19 Online Learning Series Guidance from Federal Agencies Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA): Updated FAQs for Opioid Use Disorder Prescribing and Dispensing in the COVID-19 Emergency SAMHSA: Buprenorphine and Telemedicine COVID-19 Guidance Guidance from National Organizations Vital Strategies and Harm Reduction Coalition: COVID-19, Stimulant Use, and Harm Reduction Harm Reduction Coalition: Guidance for People Who Use Drugs and Harm Reduction Programs Yale Program in Addiction Medicine: COVID-19 Guidance for Clinicians & Opioid Treatment Programs American Medical Association: COVID-19 policy recommendations for OUD, Pain, Harm Reduction NASTAD: COVID-19 Updates and Resources NASTAD: Health Department Responses to COVID-19: Webinar: Supporting SSPS and Harm Reduction Programs Guidance from Local Programs San Francisco AIDS Foundation: COVID-19 and Harm Reduction: Information for People Who Use Drugs and Syringe Service and other Harm Reduction Providers (San Francisco, CA) SF United in Crisis: A Medically Indicated Plan to Prevent Spread of COVID-19 Among Unhoused People (San Francisco, CA) Equity Webinar: Winter is Coming: Evictions & Social Upheaval (NHCHC) Systemic Racism & Health Care, COVID & Treatment (NIHCM Foundation) What We Heard about COVID-19, Homelessness, and Services from People with Lived Experience (National Innovation Services) On the Frontlines: Nonprofits Led by People of Color Confront COVID-19 and Structural Racism (Building Movement Project) Staff Orientation to Racial Equity (HUD) Creating a Cultural Equity Plan: Organizational Policies and Procedures (HUD) Equity Capacity Building: Hiring, Supervision, Training (HUD) Racial Trauma and Trauma-Informed Services (HUD) Integrating Equity in the Time of COVID-19 (Homebase) Race, Homelessness, and COVID-19: Guidance for Homeless Services Providers (Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio) COVID-19 Racial Equity Resource Guide (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority) COVID-19 Homeless System Response: Prevention to Promote Equity (HUD) Policing, Incarceration, & COVID-19 from the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty Compounding Oppression: Antiracism in COVID-19 Response Racial Justice During Crises: COVID will show you whether it’s a priority by Michael Durham, National Health Care for the Homeless Council Race, Homelessness, and COVID-19 from the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty CSH blog by Pascale Leon An Equitable Systems Transformation Framework for COVID-19 from National Innovation Services COVID-19 – Racial Equity & Social Justice Resources from Racial Equity Tools Central City Concern internal guidance Oregon health authority recommendations An Invitation to Center Race in Government Responses to COVID-19 by Living Cities CDC Statement on Reducing Stigma Strategies for racial equity in COVID-19 response Equity Tool (Corporation for Supportive Housing) Centering Equity in Health & Housing Partnerships in Times of Crisis & Beyond (CSH) Crises as Catalyst: A Call for Race Equity & Inclusive Leadership (ProInspire) Equity at the Intersection of Race and Housing (Public Health Newswire) Consumer Resources Guidance from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council How to Wear and Care for your Cloth Face Covering Things to Do During the COVID-19 Crisis If You Have Diabetes Cover Your Cough Flyer (English) Cover Your Cough Flyer (Spanish) Did You Wash Your Hands Flyer Guidance from Federal Agencies People Experiencing Homelessness: numerous information flyers aimed at consumers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Information for people experiencing homelessness (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)  Guidance from National Organizations FAQ from National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) COVID-19 Guidance for People Who Use Substances (Yale Program in Addiction Medicine) COVID-19 Guidance for People Engaged in Substance Use Treatment (Yale Program in Addiction Medicine) Guidance from Local Programs Information for people who are homeless and use drugs (courtesy of the Homeless Youth Alliance in San Francisco) “How do you wash your hands when…?” (from Western Regional Advocacy Project) Public Health, Seattle & King County: Protecting Yourself and Others on the Bus (Seattle, WA) Public Health, Seattle & King County: COVID-19 Health Warning for People Living Homeless (Seattle, WA) Public Health, Seattle & King County: Special Guidance: Wearing Cloth Face Coverings (Seattle, WA) Public Health, Seattle & King County: Special Guidance: Staying Safe When in Line for Food/Shelter (Seattle, WA) Policy & Advocacy View our COVID-19 Policy & Advocacy resources. Self-Care Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook from the Wellness Society Mindfulness in the Time of Crisis podcast from C4 Innovations Other Guidance & Research Guidance from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council NHCHC: National HCH Council Emergency Preparedness Resources Pandemic Influenza Guidance for Homeless Shelters & Homeless Service Providers (2009) | The National Health Care for the Homeless Council developed this practical manual for homeless shelters and other service providers as they plan for and respond to the special needs of people without homes during the influenza season. Different facilities will need to tailor the guidance to meet the specific needs of their staff and the people they serve. The manual consolidates a number of materials developed by credible authorities. Influenza chapter from The Health Care of Homeless Persons  Guidance from Federal Agencies HHS/ASPE: Individuals Experiencing Homelessness are Likely to have Medical Conditions Associated with Severe Illness from COVID-19 Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Homeless System Response: Changes to Coordinated Entry Prioritization to Support and Respond to COVID-19 HUD: HUD Issues Availability of Regulatory Waivers for CoC, ESG, and HOPWA Programs to Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 and Mitigate Economic Impacts Health Resources and Services Administration: Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Resources for Health Centers Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Emerging Infectious Diseases CDC: Pandemic Influenza Plan Template for Primary Care Provider Offices Academic Research Clinical Outcomes, Costs, and Cost-effectiveness of Strategies for Adults Experiencing Sheltered Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic (research by Travis Baggett, Justine Scott, and Mylinh Le published in JAMA Network Open) Phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Boston highlights the impact of superspreading events (Science, Dec. 2020) Expiring Eviction Moratoriums and COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality (Research by Leifheit, Kathryn M. and Linton, Sabriya L. and Raifman, Julia and Schwartz, Gabriel and Benfer, Emily and Zimmerman, Frederick J and Pollack, Craig – November 30, 2020) Epidemiology of COVID-19 among People Experiencing Homelessness: Early Evidence from Boston (Research by Travis P. Baggett, Elizabeth Lewis, and Jessie M. Gaeta) Estimated Emergency and Observational/Quarantine Capacity Need for the US Homeless Population Related to COVID-19 Exposure by County; Projected Hospitalizations, Intensive Care Units and Mortality (Research by Dennis Culhane, Dan Treglia, Ken Steif, Randall Kuhn, & Thomas Byrne – March 25, 2020) Community-level COVID-19 Homelessness Planning & Response Dashboard (Dashboard based on research report) Leung, C. et al. (2008). Homelessness and the Response to Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Lessons from SARS. Journal of Urban Health 85 (3): 402-410. Join the Council Make A Donation Get Assistance Contact Us Our Networks Respite Care Providers' NetworkNational Consumer Advisory BoardHCH Clinicians' Network Get Involved Join Our Organization Donate to Our Cause Subscribe to Receive our latest eNewsletter Success! Email Sign Up Now This website is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,625,741 with 20 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov. Copyright © 2020 National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Inc. 604 Gallatin Ave., Suite 106 | Nashville, TN 37206 | (615) 226-2292 Disclaimers and Payment Policies FollowFollowFollow