Non-Congregate Shelter

Non-congregate shelter is a term used to define a broad set of sheltering initiatives that may be used to respond to COVID-19 for vulnerable populations including the homeless. Communities can use non-congregate shelter to plan for hospital surges, prevent shelter outbreaks and more adequately serve people who are in high risk health categories. Non-congregate shelter can take a variety of forms including hotels and motels, college dormitories or trailers.  The resources and tools identified below include information and community examples about funding and service delivery to maintain safe non-congregate shelter environments during a COVID-19 response.

Strategic Funding and Grants Management

• FEMA—COVID-19 Streamlined Project Application

• FEMA—Eligible Emergency Protective Measures

• FEMA—Non-Congregate Sheltering

• FEMA—Purchase and Distribution of Food Eligible for Public Assistance

• HUD Exchange Resource: Federal Funding Priority Order for Non-Congregate Shelter During COVID-19

• HUD Exchange TA Resource: Managed Care Resource Brief

• HUD Exchange TA Resource: Non-Congregate Sheltering—Recommendations for Requests for Assistance

Partner Resources

• NAEH—FEMA Public Assistance Program Category B (Emergency Protective Measures)

• NLIHC—Getting to Yes: Working with FEMA to Fund Non-Congregate Shelter During COVID-19

Operations and Best Practices

• FEMA—COVID-19 Best Practice Information: Community Emergency Response Team

• FEMA—COVID-19 Best Practice Information: Managing and Deploying Volunteers in a Pandemic Environment

• HUD Exchange TA Resource: Allocating ESG-CV to Support Strategies to Prevent and Respond to COVID-19 Outbreaks

• HUD Exchange TA Resource: Alternative Approaches to Isolation and Quarantine Spaces

• HUD Exchange TA Resource: Connecting Quarantine to Coordinated Entry: Mainstream Resources

• HUD Exchange TA Resource: Infection Control and Winter Planning Series

• HUD Exchange TA Resource: Non-congregate approaches to sheltering for COVID-19 Homeless Response

• HUD Exchange TA Resource: Rehousing Out of Non-Congregate Shelter: Maximizing Placements

• HUD Exchange TA Resource: Social Distancing: Inspired Ideas for Addressing Loneliness

• HUD Exchange TA Resource: Staff Capacity: Considerations for Scaling Up

• HUD Exchange TA Resource: Supporting Individuals Exiting Isolation or Quarantine

Partner Resources

• American Red Cross—Non-Congregate Shelter Training for Partners

• American Hotel and Lodging Association—Hotel-Hospital COVID-19 Response Playbook

• American Hotel and Lodging Association—Hotels Supporting Healthcare: COVID-19 Toolkit

• CSH—Suggested Support Plan for Clients in Isolation Units and Leveraging Tele-Health

• NLIHC—Housing is Healthcare: Challenges, Best Practices, and Policy Recommendations to Improve FEMA Programs to House People Experiencing Homelessness in Non-Congregate Shelters During the Pandemic

Community Examples

Staffing

• Connecticut—Job Description for Shelter/Hotel Case Management Staff

• King County, WA—Behavioral Health Staffing at Isolation and Quarantine Facilities: Job Description

• Las Vegas, NV—Job Description for Caseworker

• Las Vegas, NV—Job Description for Facility Monitors

• Las Vegas, NV—Job Description for Operations Workers

• Minnesota—Staffing Request Form for COVID-19 Isolation and Protection Housing: A tool to assist county and tribal government homeless leads in communicating their staffing needs to their county Emergency Manager

• Article: 250 National Guard members activated for Denver sheltering efforts

• Article: California National Guard arrives in Long Beach to help with coronavirus response

• Article: Mass. Guard provides security for homeless affected by COVID-19

Set-Up

• COVID-19 Isolation Hotel Contract Template

• COVID-19 Release of Hotel Guests: Waiver and release of liability by hotel guests

• COVID-19 Emergency Occupancy Agreement: Agreement for homeless providers to lease additional space to support clients during COVD-19 response

• Massachusetts—COVID-19 Homelessness Response

• Minnesota—Workbook to Calculate Estimated Number of Isolation and Protection Beds Needed

• Ohio—Guidelines for Establishing Hotel/motels as Isolation, Quarantine, Respite or Emergency Shelters

• Virginia—Guidance for Hotels/motels Being Used as Temporary Shelter for the Homeless Population

• Washington, DC—Hotel Insurance

Operations

• COVID-19 Temporary Hotel Placement Program: Expectations and guidelines for hotel placement guests

• Connecticut—COVID-19 Coordinated Access Networks (CAN) Hotel Program Guide: Instructions for hotel staff

• Connecticut—COVID-19 Needs Assessment Tool: Form to assess the needs of hotel placement guests

• Connecticut—COVID-19 Guest Takeaway: Takeaway sheet for hotel placement guests containing important information and tips

• Hartford, CT—Memo Encouraging the Move to Permanent Housing

• Alameda County, CA—Project Roomkey: Alameda County Operation Comfort & Operation Safer Ground Handbook

• Alameda County, CA—Operation Comfort: Admission Forms

• Alameda County, CA—Operation Comfort: Clinical Nursing Intake Assessment Form

• Alameda County, CA—Operation Comfort: MD Screening Tool

• Alameda County, CA—Operation Comfort: Daily Monitoring Form for Outreach Workers

• Alameda County, CA—Operation Comfort & Operation Safer Ground: Individual Safety Units Checklist for Providers

• Alameda County, CA—Operation Comfort & Operation Safer Ground: Individual Safety Units Checklist for Clients

• Virginia—Hotel/Motel Temporary Shelter Guest Agreement Form

• Denver, CO—Homeless Service Providers Activated Respite and Protective Action Referrals Protocol

• Illinois—Recommended Guidance for Transporting High-risk Populations

• Los Angeles, CA—Isolation Tracking Log: Form to determine whether an individual should be isolated

• Los Angeles, CA—Quarantine Tracking Log: Form to determine whether an individual should be quarantined

• Seattle & King County, WA—Isolation & Quarantine Assessment Center/Recovery Center Standard Operating Procedures