COVID-19 & Policy Issues
We are working on your behalf to mitigate the impact of this crisis on individuals experiencing homelessness. We are communicating with Congressional leaders on priority areas around health, housing, and homelessness in the constantly evolving national landscape. We have a state and local policy agenda as well as an action agenda for public health authorities and emergency response systems. We’ll continue creating spaces for our community to share best practices. See more of what we’re doing below.
Looking for federal guidance or local protocols? See our COVID-19 Resources.
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Specific Policy & Advocacy Goals:
- EVERY community has identified appropriate isolation/quarantine accommodations for people who are homeless.
- EVERY community has banned evictions, encampment sweeps, vehicle tows, and other actions that destabilize living spaces
- EVERY community is taking proactive, constructive actions to assist unsheltered populations living on the street and in encampments, such as the provision of hand-washing stations and bathrooms
- EVERY homeless health care provider has sufficient levels of PPE, supplies, and support from local emergency response systems
- EVERY community is supporting Continuums of Care (CoCs), shelters, transitional housing programs, food programs, and other homeless services providers to ensure they are able to continue providing vital services while also keeping their staff and clients safe
- EVERY community leverages emergency funding to increase medical respite program capacity, and other services provided in shelters and temporary housing to meet the health care needs of those needing ongoing care
- EVERY community is deploying outreach teams to deliver needed information, supplies, and services to unsheltered populations, and does this in a trauma-informed manner
National HCH Council Materials
Blog/British Medical Journal: Bringing COVID-19 Vaccines to High-Risk Populations—Like Those who are Homeless—Requires a Tailored Approach
Letter to Governors and Local Officials: Increasing COVID-19 Vaccine Access for People Experiencing Homelessness
Statement: Long-Overdue COVID-19 Relief Bill Passes
Issue brief #10: COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Vaccines for Patients and Staff
NHCHC’s comment letter to the National Academies of Science on their Discussion Draft of the Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine
Comparative Analysis Paper: COVID-19 Response in Countries with Single-Payer & Implications for Impoverished Populations
Resource: Summary of Key Provisions in HEALS Act
Resource: Summary of Key Provisions in HEROES Act
Press Release: The Council Commends Passing of the CARES Act
April 2020 Mobilizer: Mega COVID-19 Edition 2.0
March 2020 Mobilizer: Mega COVID-19 Edition
Federal Legislation
Interim Stimulus Bill “Phase 3.5”: Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act
Our Partner’s COVID-19 Landing Pages
Find government documents and guidance on our main COVID-19 resources page.
This page is being regularly updated. Please contact Policy Team with questions or suggestions.