Project Roomkey/Housing and Homelessness COVID Response

• All County Welfare Directors Letter (6/1): Project Roomkey Initiative
• All County Welfare Directors Letter (3/31): Interim Housing and Homelessness Program Guidance and Recommendations on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• All County Welfare Directors Letter (3/19): Interim Housing and Homeless Program Guidance and Recommendations on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Planning and Response Guidance

• CDC Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers to Plan and Respond to COVID (4/22)
  • CDC Groups at Higher Risk for Severe Illness from COVID
  • CDC COVID in Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
• CA Recommended Strategic Approaches for COVID Response for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
• CA Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH) COVID Response
• HUD Homeless System Response: Changes to Coordinated Entry Prioritization to Support and Respond to COVID-19(May 2020)
• HUD/CDC Non-Congregate Approaches to Sheltering for COVID Homeless Response
  • HUD Health Preparedness for Homeless Assistance Providers
• USICH/HHS/HUD/FEMA Federal Programs that Support Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (see page 4 for journey map/flowchart for individuals experiencing homelessness, April 2020)
• A Framework for COVID-19 Homelessness Response (National Alliance to End Homelessness Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 5/1)
  Provides guidance on how communities can use the CARES Act and other funding sources (such as FEMA Public Assistance) strategically across a range of key public health and economic recovery strategies to help communities meet public health goals and increase housing stability.

Additional Resources

• CA Department of Public Health (CDPH) COVID Response
• CDC Resources to Support People Experiencing Homelessness
• HUD Disease Risks and Homelessness COVID Resources
  • HUD COVID Prevention and Response for Homeless Providers: Daily Resource Digest
• National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) Coronavirus and Homelessness Resources
• US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) COVID Response

Key Guidance

• Project Roomkey Fact Sheet
• Project Roomkey Grantees (6/15)
• Project Roomkey PowerPoint
• LA Project Roomkey Slideshow
• CDPH Guidance for Project Roomkey sites serving suspected or confirmed COVID-19 individuals experiencing homelessness and at higher risk of serious illness

Screening and Intake

• Project Roomkey Screening and Documentation for Priority Populations for Non-Congregate Shelter (NCS) FEMA Reimbursement
  Outlines the recommended practices for screening and documenting across triage, eligibility and program enrollment for NCS FEMA reimbursement for Project Roomkey. It is strongly recommended that all staff responsible for screening/intake for Project Roomkey take this training.
  • Webinar Recording: Project Roomkey Screening and Documentation Training
  • Powerpoint: Project Roomkey Screening and Documentation Training
  • Project Roomkey Sample Intake Form (4/20)
  • Project Roomkey Sample High-Risk Self-Certification (4/20)
  • Project Roomkey Sample Standard Intake Tracking Template (4/20)
• HUD Client Screening and Workflow Examples
• Alameda County Project Roomkey Screening and Intake Templates and Training

Data and HMIS

• HMIS tracking for Non-Congregate Shelter (NCS)/Project Roomkey
  The State, HUD, and HMIS experts developed a new NCS workflow in HMIS as a tool to support local implementation of Project Roomkey in tracking all NCS utilization for NCS reimbursement for FEMA during COVID.
  • HMIS NCS Data Definitions (4/20)
  • Working HMIS NCS Project Information (4/18)
  • Working HMIS NCS Recommended Workflow (4/18)

Funding Considerations

• Federal Funding Priority Order for Non-Congregate Shelter During COVID-19 (6/23)
• Governor Newsom Takes Emergency Actions & Authorizes $150 Million in Funding to Protect Homeless Californians from COVID-19 (Released March 18, 2020)
• CA Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH) COVID Response
  • $100 million Emergency COVID Homeless Funding Grant Allocations
  • BCSH COVID Funding FAQ (4/8)
  • BCSH Funding Questions: HCFC@BCSH.ca.gov
• FEMA Non-Congregate Shelter (NCS) Guidance
  • Project Roomkey: FEMA Approval Extension (7/30)
  • Project Roomkey: FEMA Approval Extension (7/1)
  • Project Roomkey: FEMA Approval Extension (6/1)
  • Project Roomkey FEMA Reimbursement FAQ-2nd Edition (6/8)
  • Project Roomkey: FEMA Approval Extension (4/29)
  • Project Roomkey FEMA Approval Letter (3/27)
  • Project Roomkey: FEMA Approval Letter for Local Governments (4/2)
  • FEMA Non-Congregate Shelter (NCS) FAQ
  • CalOES Emergency Non-Congregate Shelter: Approval and Reimbursement of Costs FAQ
  • FEMA Questions
    • For questions regarding FEMA approval for non-congregate emergency shelter or eligible reimbursements, visit: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/cal-oes-divisions/recovery/covid-19
    • FEMA general/reimbursement: DisasterRecovery@CalOES.ca.gov
    • Procurements and Contracting: PAProcurement@CalOES.ca.gov
• US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) COVID Response
  • Webinar Recording: Maximizing Funding for Non-Congregate Shelter Opportunities: California’s Project Roomkey (4/23)
  • COVID-19 Funding, Flexibilities, and Waivers (4/20)
  • Programs that Support Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (USICH, HHS, HUD, FEMA) (April 2020)
• HUD Community Planning and Development (CPD) and CARES Act
  • HUD Community Planning and Development (CPD) Local Cross-Program Funding Matrix and Dashboard Reports (May 2020)
    These reports provide funding information for each city and state that receives CPD program funds, by grantee, including funds currently available to be spent on affordable housing and community and economic development activities.
• CARES Act Guidance for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Elected Officials (National Alliance to End Homelessness and partners, 4/21)
  • Summarizes federal resources made available under the CARES Act.
  • Provides recommended actions for State, local, tribal, and territorial governments to preserve long-term housing stability, especially for the most vulnerable.
  • Provides examples of steps taken by local officials to support housing stability and homelessness response in their communities.

Operations

• CDC Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers to Plan and Respond to COVID (4/22)
  • CDC Considerations for Alternate Care Sites (e.g., hotels/motels)
• American Red Cross Project Roomkey Non-Congregate Shelter (NCS) Training
  The American Red Cross developed this Non-Congregate Shelter (NCS) Training for Project Roomkey, which details how to effectively open, operate, and close NCS for those who are experiencing homelessness during COVID. This recorded training and handouts are free to attendees. Register via the link above.
• Project Roomkey Strategies for Rural Communities (6/2)
• Setting Up a Community Isolation Facility on Tribal Lands (American Indian Commission of WA State and Makah and Quinault Nation)
  • American Indian Health Commission (AIHC) website: https://aihc-wa.com
• Alameda County Project Roomkey Template Materials for Local Implementation

Essential Wraparound Supports/Core Operating Services

• CDC Considerations for Alternate Care Sites (e.g., hotels/motels)
• USICH/HHS/HUD/FEMA Federal Programs that Support Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (see pages 5-7 for wraparound supports, April 2020)
• Available State Contracts:
  • State-Contracted Food Vendor: World Central Kitchen
    Provides local governments the opportunity to acquire food service operations for any COVID response needs, including Project Roomkey, in accordance with the outlined instructions, terms and conditions.
  • State-Contracted Security Vendors (contact housing@dss.ca.gov for this resource) Provides SEIU security vendors willing to contract with local governments for Project Roomkey/COVID Response.
  • State-Contracted Medical Staffing
    Provides local governments the opportunity to acquire medical staffing for Project Roomkey, in accordance with the outlined instructions, terms and conditions.
• Behavioral Health
  • DHCS COVID FAQ: Behavioral Health Services for People Experiencing Homelessness
• Telehealth
  • DHCS COVID FAQ: Medication-Assisted Treatment and Telehealth
• Worker Protections/Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • CDPH Use of Personal Protective Equipment during COVID (4/14)
    This updated guidance includes healthcare workers, social services workers and other first responders that perform direct patient care and routinely have prolonged, close direct contact with patients with possible or confirmed COVID as crucial classifications for PPE.
  • CDPH Guidance on Optimizing Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • CDC Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE and Equipment
  • Alameda County Project Roomkey PPE Training
• Cleaning/Disinfection
  • CDC Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility
  • CDPH Cleaning and Waste Management Considerations for Residences
• Pets
  • Co-Sheltering Collaborative: Guidelines for Co-Sheltering
  • Guidance on Co-Sheltering People and Animals: Considerations and Resources
• Substance-use/Harm-reduction
  • Reducing Harm for People Using Drugs & Alcohol During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Guide for Alternate Care Sites Programs (April 2020)
  • Harm Reduction Coalition: COVID-19 Resources for People Who Use Drugs

• Governor’s Office April 18, 2020 press release: Governor Newsom visits Project Roomkey Site in Santa Clara County to Highlight Progress on the State’s Initiative to Protect People Experiencing Homelessness
• Governor Newsom’s April 18, 2020 press conference on Project Roomkey
• Governor Newsom Takes Executive Action to Establish a Statewide Moratorium on Evictions (Released Mar 27, 2020)
• California Secures Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to Support State’s COVID-19 Emergency Response (Released March 22, 2020)
• Governor Newsom Takes Emergency Actions & Authorizes $150 Million in Funding to Protect Homeless Californians from COVID-19 (Released March 18, 2020)