Persons experiencing homelessness may be at risk for infection during an outbreak of COVID-19. This interim guidance is intended to support response planning by homeless service providers, including overnight emergency shelters, day shelters, and meal service providers serving people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness throughout Colorado.
- SEOC State Homeless Task Force
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The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) stood up a State Homeless Task Force led by the Department of Local Affairs’ Division of Housing and the Colorado Department of Human Services.
This group is composed of state and local partners and the purpose is to determine needs and gaps within the state and fill those with local, state, or federal resources.
This task force is a coordination group working with local communities to support our neighbors without housing during this time. We are doing this is three main ways:
1) Information and Guidance
- The State Homeless Task Force is sharing CDC, HUD, and other guidance, as well as creating guidance specifically tailored to the unique needs and landscape of Colorado.
- DOLA DOH developed this Housing and COVID-19 webpage to share updated guidance and resources specific to homelessness and housing.
2) Resources
- The state is working with current grantees and contractors to modify and be flexible with existing funds where ever possible.
- The SEOC is working with local communities regarding requests for additional resources from FEMA, the various CARES Act funds, and the state for emergency needs for people without housing, including non-congregate sheltering.
- In addition, the state is continuously working to identify other resources within the state and in partnership with philanthropy, businesses, and individuals to assist homeless services agencies, their staff and the people they are serving.
3) Coordination and Technical Assistance
- In addition to information and guidance sharing, SEOC is helping local communities to coordinate the necessary stakeholders at the local level and with the state.
- In addition to the Homeless Task Force, the state has recently created a related working group regarding public health and homelessness specifically for the COVID-19 response. In addition, the state has a mass care and sheltering working group. Each group coordinates problem solving for local communities with state assistance.
SEOC Homeless Task Force members
Colorado Department of Local Affairs:
Kristin Toombs, Director, Office of Homeless Initiatives, Division of Housing
Natriece Bryant, Deputy Executive Director
Ian Fletcher, Temporary Contractor for COVID-19 Response assistance
James Martino, Program Manager
Colorado Department of Human Services:
Charlotte Olsen, Emergency Manager
Kristina (Tina) McGowan, Emergency Preparedness and Communications Specialist
Erin Hayes, Program Assistant
Sarah Lipscomb, Director of Operations, Community Partnerships
Anne-Marie Braga, Deputy Executive Director, Community Partnerships
Chelsey Hall, Two Generation Manager
Maria Watters, Project Coordinator
Nicole Miera, County and Tribal Liaison
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment:
Aimee Voth Siebert, Behavioral Health and Inclusion Worklead
Lynn Garst, Pediatric Disaster Coordinator
Alex Barba, Director, Colorado Outbreak Response Coordination Center
Andres Guerrero, Manager, Overdose Prevention Unit
Maren Moorehead, Interim Deputy Lab Director
Nicole Comstock, Communicable Disease Deputy Branch Chief
Colorado Department of Education:
Kerry Wrenick, State Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children & Youth
Dana Scott, Director, Office of Student Support
Colorado Department of Higher Education:
Nakia Collins
Colorado Department of Correction:
Annie Skinner, Public Information Officer
Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration:
Tobin Follenweider, Deputy Executive Director
CDC
Grace Marx, CDC Medical Officer supporting CDPHE’s COVID-19 Response
FEMA
Elizabeth (Liz) Di Paolo, Mass Care Lead
April Lipinski, Individual Assistance, Mass Care Specialist
Homeless Services/Housing Providers:
Cathy Alderman, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
Kristen Baluyot, Salvation Army
Christina Carlson, Urban Peak
Kathleen Van Voorhis, Interfaith Alliance Colorado
Lindsay Christopher, Violence Free Colorado
Ian Anderson, Salvation Army
Mark Kling, Family Resource Centers
Continuum of Care Regions:
Jennifer Mariano, Pikes Peak CoC
Matt Meyer, Executive Director, MDHI
Local Partners/Stakeholders:
Mellanee Montgomery, Summit County
Julie Patino, Denver Foundation
Joanne Sprouse, Human Services, Summit County
Gretchen Hammer, Public Leadership Consultant
City and County of Denver:
Britta Fisher, Executive Director of Housing Stability, Chief Housing Officer
Jennifer (Jenny) Loth Hill, DDPHE
Danica Lee, DDPHE
Gary Freeman, Emergency Management Specialist
- State Resources
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> Recommended Local Strategic Approaches for COVID-19 Response
> COVID-19 Homeless Task Force Form
> Local Emergency Manager Contact Information
- National & Federal Guidance
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> CDC Guidance for Homeless Service Providers
> CSH Supportive Housing Resources
> Eligible ESG Program Costs for Infectious Disease Preparedness (PDF)
> Using Continuum of Care (CoC) Funds for Infectious Disease and Preparedness Response (PDF)
> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Interim Guidance for Homeless Shelters
> CDC Guidance: Responding to COVID-19 among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness
HUD COVID-19 Prevention and Response for Homeless Providers: Daily Resource Digest
> U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program
> United States Interagency Council on Homelessness COVID-19 Guidance
> National Alliance to End Homelessness Framework for COVID-19 Homelessness Response
- Informative Webinars
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> SEOC Severe Weather Shelter Webinar
* Meeting chat> Vaccination & Tips for Shelter and Outreach Spaces
* Meeting chat> COVID-19 Vaccine Education for PEH
* Meeting chat> Inflow & Cold Weather Sheltering
*Presentation (PDF)
* Meeting minutes> ESG-CV2 Stakeholder Feedback
*Presentation (PDF)> Rehousing Webinar
*Presentation (PDF)
* Meeting minutes> State's Annual Action Plan Amendment & Office Hours
*Presentation (PDF)
* Meeting minutes> Testing Guidance (video)
*Presentation (PDF)
* Meeting minutes> Framework for COVID-19 Homelessness Response (video)
*Presentation (PDF)
* Meeting minutes> Public Health Coordination and Supports (video)
*Chat transcript
*Presentation (PDF)
* Meeting Minutes> Emergency Assistance Funding and CARES Act (video)
*Chat transcript
*Presentation (PDF)
* Meeting Minutes> FEMA Public Assistance and Non-Congregate Shelters Webinar (video)
*Chat transcript
*Presentation (PDF)> Unsheltered Homelessness, Encampments, and Outreach Webinar (video)
*Presentation (PDF)
* Meeting Minutes> DOH COVID-19 and Homelessness Webinar (video)
*Chat transcript
*Presentation (PDF)
* Meeting Minutes> State Homelessness and COVID-19 Webinar
*Slides
* Meeting Minutes - DOH COVID-19 Digest Email