HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) will conduct a webinar, “Infectious Disease Preparedness for Homeless Assistance Providers and Their Partners,” on Tuesday, March 10 at 3:00 p.m. ET. SNAPS Director Norm Suchar will facilitate a panel of experts who will provide the most up-to-date information and identify resources to support local response efforts.
The recent emergence of coronavirus (COVID-19) calls for enhanced cooperation between public health authorities, homeless service systems, and other partners at the local level. To support these partnerships and the vulnerable households served, relevant federal agencies are issuing guidance from subject-matter experts on lessons learned from previous infectious disease response efforts.
Individuals experiencing chronic homelessness have an increased likelihood of chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension) as well as coinciding mental health diagnosis and/or history of substance use.
During crisis situations, health conditions can be exacerbated if health care regimes are not maintained or histories of trauma trigger high-risk behaviors. These factors may increase individuals’ risk of infection and should be accounted for in response planning. Local partners also need to consider how congregate programs (i.e. nursing homes and homeless shelters) can limit risks to their clients, staff, and volunteers. In the meantime, shelter providers should consult with their local health department before turning away individuals with respiratory symptoms. If an individual requires medical attention, continue to direct them to a healthcare provider.
Webinar panelists are:
- Jay Butler, MD, deputy director infectious disease, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Barbara DiPietro, PhD, senior director of policy, National Health Care for the Homeless Council
- Hedda McLendon, manager, housing service and stability, King County Department of Community and Human Services
- Melisa Grogan, senior program specialist, SNAPS
Join the webinar at https://adobe.ly/2POjx7a
You do not need to register in advance.
However, if you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before, you should:
Other Key Resources:
- CDC: Information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- National HCH Council updates and resources influenza webpage.
- Disease Risks and Homelessness page on the HUD Exchange will have the latest information and policy guidance.
SNAPS will disseminate information via the Continuum of Care (CoC) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) listservs as it becomes available. We encourage all interested parties to subscribe to the HUD Exchange Mailing List to get regular updates from HUD.
HUD is available to provide technical assistance to homeless assistance providers who need support in preventing or responding to the spread of infectious diseases. Submit questions to the Ask A Question (AAQ) portal. In Step 2 of the question submission process, select “CoC: Continuum of Care Program” from the “My question is related to” drop down list and write “Health Preparedness and Response” in the subject line.