News from the Sonoma County Homeless Task Force

Here are the notes from our COVID-19 Provider Meeting on 4/23 at 4pm.

_NCS Outreach/Referral Updates_

·Homeless Task Force now has the info needed to finalize the NCS referral process.  We are working hard to get these protocol documents to you ASAP.__

Proceeding with original plan to have regions work together to refer their most vulnerable individuals with the FQHCs collecting these referrals and sending them to the Intake Coordination team (PHNs on the Homeless Task Force)__

·First batch of referrals has been identified by IMDT and HTF and will move in next week__

_SSU NCS Updates_

·The dorm complex for NCS (Verdot Village) will have about 140 rooms

oUnable to utilize the larger dorm complex due to air circulation requirements

oThe rooms have capacity for more than 1 person but we are not requiring individuals to share space with people they don’t know.  If several people want to stay together, we have the capacity for this

·Temp and symptoms check will be conducted multiple times for all guests prior to entering NCS site

oNo testing prior to entry unless individual displays symptoms

·RESTRICTIONS ON LEAVING CAMPUS – Guests will only be able to leave campus for walks, smoke breaks, purchasing personal items at the store, work, or medical appointments

oThere will be time limits on how long they can be gone for certain activities.

·No smoking anywhere on campus

·Guests’ belongings will be searched during intake and each time they return to the site

·No alcohol, illegal drugs, or cannabis is allowed on site

·Belongings will be limited to 2 totes and 1 personal bag

·Bikes _are_ allowed – one per person, must be operable and stored in room

·Parking will be available for guests with vehicles – must be operable

·Security on site 24/7, service provider on site 7 days/wk during the day

·No pets

·Guests will need to clean their own living spaces (rooms will be cleaned prior to their arrival)

_Transportation_

·Significant concern expressed by service providers regarding their ability to provide transport for all approved NCS referrals.  Request to work in partnership with County on this.

oJenna to bring these concerns back to the HTF team

Best,

Emily Quig

DOC Homeless Task Force

707-322-4759

Homeless in a time of COVID-19

Homeless in a time of Covid19

My friends,  one of my Shelter in Place (SIP) tasks has been to compile a chronology of homeless services in Sonoma County.  If any of you have highlights from the period of 1987 through 2009 please provide them (we have great detail after that).  For example, there were a series of Homeless conferences in the 1980 & 90s; what were the titles and dates?  Grace and Adrienne and I are doing a draft then we'll share it for editing.  We are looking at events, reports and initiatives over time.  Scanned original documents would also be welcomed but not required.

The other thing I contemplate  is our efforts to know what is going on right now.  The clearance of the Joe Rodota Trail was difficult.  The Los Guillicos situation is fraught now that there is Shelter in Place.  The time it takes to set up SSU and hotels and the trailers are all factors people with no home we are living through as I write this.

The County emergency web site proposes use of hotel rooms and shelter changes.
https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/homeless-support/
"Priority for placement in alternative locations, such as motels/hotels, will be given to people who are 65 years or older, medically compromised, pregnant, and who are ill and being tested for COVID-19."

It is unclear who is responsible for assuring that people who desperately need this priority placement will get it (who should we call to suggest names?). Initially, based on the weekly provider meetings CDC is conducting, the process involves Whole Person Care, The HEART team, The Inter-Disciplinary Multi-Agency Team, and the homeless team at the Emergency Operations Center.  They identify people who meet the FEMA criteria with some guidance from the Coordinated Entry list.

We have to understand that the shelters are first priority so that the residents there can begin to observe social distancing.  A relatively small number of homeless people from Sam Jones are already at the Sandman Motel.  We know that approximately 30 porta-potties and hand washing stations were placed in various areas of the county.  There is food distribution as well, especially by private individuals, Sonoma Applied Village Services (SAVS), Sonoma Food Runners and Sonoma Acts of Kindness.

We are greatly concerned about those who are not currently being considered for any other services. The encampments are growing as people seek the comfort of friends and minimal sanitation.  This is understandable.  It is not safe to have this kind of group living.  It is also not safe to disperse
these camps (according to the official CDC guidelines).  Anecdotal information tells us that law enforcement knows where the camps are and are, in fact, telling some people where some safe places are to park at this time.   Between 2,000-2,500 unsheltered homeless people in Sonoma County are at risk of contracting the coronavirus.  These are people who need immediate services and support.

It was left to the providers and advocates to announce the porta potty placements.   The HOME Sonoma Leadership Council is not making frequent ongoing status reports.  Maybe the April 23rd meeting will produce this; but I posit that the once a month meeting is not as useful  as we determine the best responses each day. The CDC staff who support HOME Sonoma providers are still overseeing the funding, and they provide  retrospective numeric information.  A practical challenge is to provide "real time" information in a way that does not add to their work burden.  In the same vein, the Homeless Action! notes contain many good ideas on what is needed to help people now and what data we need to share that would help promote success in the future.

The whole community: the county , service providers and the general public should share what is being done or planned?   Although overwhelmed with work, could the Home Sonoma staff take their notes from the provider meetings and share their efforts on the County Emergency services page as linked above?  Sharing of information through such transparency will promote effective responses.

Anyone who cares is asking, "How can we protect our unsheltered homeless sisters and brothers as this pandemic continues?"

--Gerry La Londe-Berg